Written Answers of 12 July 2002

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Nepal
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 8 July 2002,Official Report, column 702W, on Nepal, if she will make a statement on the failure of the Nepalese Government to allow journalists and aid agencies access to the western districts of Nepal. [69513]

  Clare Short
  UK funded development assistance, and that of other donor agencies too, continues throughout Nepal, including in many of the Mid-and Far-Western districts of the country where the conflict situation is worse. However, development staff based in Kathmandu do not, for security reasons, visit areas of active conflict. There are no Government restrictions per se.

  There has been some press coverage recently of visits made by journalists to districts in the west of the country. However, the current State of Emergency is deterring many journalists from visiting parts of the country.

  World Bank
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 8 July 2002,Official Report, column 613W, on World Bank loans, how much the UK Government contributed to the 12th Replenishment of the International Development Association IDA-12; and how much it contributed to IDA-13. [69515]

  Clare Short
  The British Government contributed £511 m to the 12th Replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA-12), equating to a 7.3 per cent. share. This made the UK the joint fourth largest donor to IDA.

  The UK's contribution to the 13th Replenishment of IDA (IDA-13) has not yet been finalised. An announcement will be made shortly.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 8 July 2002,Official Report, column 613W, on World Bank loans, what provisions are in place to ensure that the level of overall IDA resources does not decrease in future as a result of the conversion of some loans to grants; and if she will make a statement. [69514]

  Clare Short
  Around 40 per cent of the International Development Association's (IDA's) resources currently come from re-flows from previous loans being repaid. During negotiations for the 13th Replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA-13), the British Government argued consistently that if some loans were to be converted to grants under IDA-13, IDA donors 1226W
  should ensure that a scheme was agreed to compensate IDA for the resulting future loss in re-flows. Such a scheme would require donors to start putting aside a small amount of resources now and during future replenishments.

  Very regrettably, IDA donors have not yet managed to agree such a scheme, despite strong UK pressure to do so. Donors have, however, accepted the principle that extra resources do need to be put aside in advance of future shortfalls. They have agreed to make a final decision on what sort of scheme should be used during the Mid-Term Review of IDA-13, which is scheduled to begin in around six months' time. The British Government will continue to press hard to ensure a satisfactory outcome which will protect IDA's long-term financial sustainability.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Service
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the collection of fines by the Court Service; [62600]

  (2) what the level of arrears of fines was, and what percentage of fines had not been collected within the due time (a) in the last 12 months and (b) in the 12 month period before the change in the collection system; and if he will make a statement. [62601]

  Yvette Cooper
  Fines are imposed by both Magistrates' Courts and the Crown Court. The Crown Court is part of the Court Service, which is an executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department. The Court Service does not collect fines. Fines are collected by Magistrates' Courts and their staff, which constitute an independent local service with statutory powers for the enforcement and collection of financial penalties.

  The Government are committed to improving the enforcement of financial penalties. Variations in performance across the country are too wide. We have transferred lead responsibility for warrant execution from the police to Magistrates' Courts Committees, on 1 April 2001.

  We have established an information sharing scheme, which enables Magistrates' Courts to obtain basic information on defaulters from the Department for Work and Pensions. We have set performance targets for 2002–03 and Magistrates' Courts Committees have also been given nearly£10 million extra from April 2002, ring-fenced for enforcement purposes. We will monitor the position carefully to check that performance improves.

  Magistrates' Courts Committees have responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed through the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just the fines from the total.

  Arrears is described as the total of missed lump sums or missed instalments on impositions where deferred payment was allowed. The latest available figures for the level of arrears of all debt are:
  1227W
  (c)£246 million as at 31 March 2002;

  (d)£226 million as at 31 March 2001.

  Data are only collected on the financial value of the debt, not the number of fines. Fines are normally payable from the moment of imposition unless time to pay is Year granted.

  Since the transfer, the write-off rate has reduced from 19 per cent of total debt imposed in 2000–01 to 15 percent. of total debt imposed in 2001–02, which was equivalent to£19.5 million.

  Judiciary (Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Cases)
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will amend the rules of the Supreme Court to ensure that a woman judge is a member of appeal courts hearing a case concerning(a) rape, (b) other sexual offences and (c) domestic violence. [65211]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government have no proposals to amend the Rules of the Supreme Court on the composition of courts hearing appeals.

  Rape
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that judges receive equivalent training about rape offences to that recommended for police and prosecutors by the HMIC/CPSI thematic inquiry into rape. [65213]

  Yvette Cooper
  Judicial Training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) which is an independent non-departmental public body. It is chaired by Lord Justice Waller.

  The Board provides specialist training to those judges authorised to hear cases of rape through its regular Serious Sexual Offences Seminars.

  The Criminal Committee of the JSB will be considering the comments made in the Joint Inspectors' Report over the coming months.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he will take to ensure that the recommendations of the Sentencing Advisory Panel on rape are implemented by the judiciary. [65210]

  Yvette Cooper
  The decision on whether or not to issue guidelines based on the Sentencing Advisory Panel's advice to the Court of Appeal is for that Court.

  Fines
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of fine-defaulters were in receipt of income support and income-related jobseekers allowance in each year since 1990. [65119]

  Yvette Cooper
  It is not possible to provide proportions of fine defaulters who were in receipt of Income Support (IS) or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA IB). The table below shows numbers of IS/JSA (IB) claimants at a point in time each year since 1228W
  1994, with a deduction in force on their benefit for fines recovery. It is not possible to provide historical figures back to 1990 as fines recovery data was not collected.

  Year

  IS Claiments(1000s)

  JSA (IB) Claiments (1000s)

  May 1994

  7

  —

  May 1995

  9

  —

  May 1996

  16

  —

  May 1997

  14

  8

  May 1998

  13

  7

  May 1999

  13

  6

  May 2000

  12

  5

  May 2001

  13

  4

  Feb 2002

  14

  4

  Notes:

  1. Based on 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling variation.

  2. IS figures from May 1994 to May 1997 include unemployed claimants claiming Income Support.

  3. JSA (IB) replaced IS for the unemployed in October 1996.

  4. Some Income-based JSA claimants may also have entitlement to benefit via the contributory route.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of fines imposed by Sussex magistrates were(a) paid, (b) written off, (c) cancelled and (d) in arrears in each year since 1990. [65120]

  Yvette Cooper
  Magistrates' Courts Committees have responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed through the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just fines from the total.

  Sussex Magistrates' Courts Committee IT system includes cancellations in the write off figures. The figures available for Sussex Magistrates' Courts Committee are as follows:

  2001–02—Imposed:£7,990,163 (a) £4,106,942 (b) £2,462,123 (d)£3,441,695;

  2000–01—Imposed:£9,066,983 (a) £4,648,440 (b) £3,475,773 (d) £2,728,719;

  1999–2000—Imposed:£8,094,313 (a) £5,611,954 (b) £3,406,299 (d) £7,404,347.

  Prior to 1999, the Magistrates' Courts Committees were not asked as part of their data collection to provide full-information on the amounts imposed, paid or cancelled. The national data for the period 1996–1998 for amounts "written off" were only collected for the last quarter of each calendar year; while the "amounts in arrears" show the position as at 31 December for each year.

  1998—(b)£572,651 (d)£4,544,567;

  1997—(b)£451,266 (d)£4,461,302;

  1996—(b)£712,100 (d)£4,807,596.

  For the period 1993–1995 only figures for the total arrears at the year's end are available:

  1995—(d) £4,062,847;

  1994—(d) £4,859,747;

  1229W

  1993—(d) £2,086,118. (Data only provided by East Sussex.)

  Prior to 1993 data were not collected centrally.

  Electoral Systems
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on(a) the (i) timing and (ii) structure of the proposed review of the new voting systems in the devolved administrations and (b) the report of the Jenkins Commission. [65572]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on Tuesday 3 July 2001 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister,Official Report, column 93W.

  Magistrates' Court, Liverpool
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total level of fines imposed by Liverpool Magistrates' Court was in each year since 1998–99. [66689]

  Yvette Cooper
  Magistrates' Courts have responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed through the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just fines from the total.

  Liverpool Magistrates' Court has imposed the following amount of debt:

  April 2001–March 2002—£3,754,209

  April 2000–March 2001—£5,053,315

  April 1999–March 2000—£5,523,974

  April 1998–March 1999—£5,459,562

  The fall in impositions over the period April 2001 to March 2002 was due to the fact that under the Human Rights Act introduced in October 2000 some of the accommodation at Liverpool was judged to be unsuitable and so work had to be transferred to other courts within Merseyside while remedial building work was completed at Liverpool.

TRANSPORT

  South West Trains
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for how long the Strategic Rail Authority has been in negotiation with South West Trains for its franchise renewal; [67427]

  (2) when he intends to announce the South West Trains franchise renewal. [67425]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) signed heads of terms with Stagecoach in April 2001. Negotiation of a new franchise agreement is continuing. On 1 July the SRA announced that, while negotiations for a long-term franchise continue, the existing South West Trains franchise has been amended to provide a £29 million package of improvements for passengers including new Desiro trains.

  M1
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a tall fence is being erected adjacent to the hard shoulder on the southbound carriageway of the Ml motorway south of junction 25; what the total cost is of the works; who authorised the same; and who is bearing the cost. [67764]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Highways Agency has received numerous complaints from local residents living adjacent to the M1 south of junction 25 about the high level of traffic noise. As part of the Government's "New Deal for Trunk Roads in England". revised criteria and a ring fenced annual budget have been established to help the Agency to deal with some of the most serious and pressing cases of noise from the motorway and trunk road network.

  Following an initial assessment of sites on the network, the M1 junction 25 was identified as an area with a particular noise problem and was subsequently included in the list of locations to be prioritised for treatment published in Hansard in November 1999. This was followed by a detailed Scheme Identification Study to determine the most appropriate and viable method of reducing the noise problems at this location. Environmental barriers were found to be the most cost effective solution. A local consultation exercise was carried out in October 2000.

  The estimated final cost of the works is £1.2 million, but this includes an element for the upgrade of part of the motorway communications network (approximately £130,000), which is being carried out at the same time. The work was authorised and is being funded by the Highways Agency.

  Devolution
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EU Committee on application of the legislation on access to the ground-handling market at Community airports is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [68596]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The mandate of the ground handling committee is to advise the Commission when member states apply for exemptions from the ground handling directive. There are no cases currently being considered by the committee and so there is no date set for its next meeting. Officials from my Department represent the UK on the Committee as policy responsibility on access to the groundhandling market is a reserved matter. However, my officials consult the Scottish Executive on agenda items in which it might have an interest in accordance with our Concordat with the Devolved Administrations.

  Hazardous Cargoes
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels with hazardous cargoes have been allowed to transit a compulsory pilotage district since 12 December 2001(a) in total and (b) without an authorised pilot on board. [68763]
  1231W
  Mr. Spellar
  The Department does not hold this information nationally. The new arrangements for pilotage on the Humber began on 12 December 2001: it is understood that no vessels with bulk hazardous cargoes have been allowed to transit that pilotage district since that date without an authorised pilot on board.

  Humber Pilots
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the countries of origin of the pilots' certificates of the Humber Pilots employed by ABP; and if he will make a statement. [69544]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None. The criteria for pilot applicants is a matter for the competent harbour authority, in accordance with the Pilotage Act 1987.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those schemes supported by the Rural Bus Challenge competition identified by his Department as providing best practice examples. [69352]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Research commissioned by my Department on the impact of the rural bus grant schemes introduced in 1998–99 is currently on-going. This work includes consideration of examples of good practice supported under the Rural Bus Challenge. The research report is expected by the end of this year and will be published.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatal motor vehicle accidents, (b) fatalities, (c) motor vehicle accidents resulting in serious injury and (d) motor vehicle accidents requiring the attendance of an ambulance there were on the (i) A47 between Uppingham and Leicester and (ii) A52 between Barrowby and Bingham in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [69516]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number of fatal accidents, fatalities and serious road accidents for the stretches of road requested are shown in the tables below. Information is not available on the number of accidents requiring the attendance of an ambulance.

  Personal Injury Road Accidents and Casualties on the A47 Uppingham1 to Leicester2

  Year of Accident

  Fatal accidents

  Fatalities

  Serious accidents

  1997

  2

  3

  1

  1998

  0

  0

  6

  1999

  2

  3

  8

  2000

  2

  3

  5

  2001(P)

  4

  5

  7

  1 Uppingham is taken as OS reference {48639,30066}.

  2 Leicester is taken as OS reference {46145,30540}.

  (P) Figures for 2001 are provisional.

DEFENCE

  Munitions
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) factors and (b) criteria were used by Defence Estates Organisation in their table-top evaluation of the likely sale value of Dean Hill Munitions Depot. [68912]

  Mr. Ingram
  In June 2001 Defence Estates SW provided an outline desktop valuation of the Dean Hill Munitions Site to advise the Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 Investment Appraisal.

  The valuation was based on the estimated realisation price, assuming that the sites had been subject to a Phase 2 Land Quality Assessment. It had been proposed that the eventual value for the site would be abated by the cost of the remedial work once known. Site inspections were permitted. However, in view of the sensitivity of the issues and as the purpose was to inform an investment appraisal, no approach was made to the local planning authority at that stage.

  Due to the absence of clear planning guidance, with the exception of the residential property and agricultural land, the possible future uses of the remainder of the site were limited, The value was established by assuming disposal of the residential and agricultural property, and based on the limited redevelopment and re-use of the remaining area for potential employment uses.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 Consultative Document (D/DM/72/46/1) dated 24 June were printed; and if he will list the locations to which they were distributed. [69422]

  Mr. Ingram
  131 hard copies of the Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 Consultative Document were printed. These were distributed to:

  46 to National Trades Union officials at various locations nationwide, 57 to civilian employees at Defence Munitions (DM) Dean Hill, 21 to the Ministry of Defence Police Officers stationed at DM Dean Hill. One copy each to the DM Whitley, Vice Chair and Vice Secretaries at DM Longtown (Cumbria), DM Beith (Ayrshire), DM Kineton (Warwickshire) and London.

  Three copies for internal MOD distribution (one Bath, one Andover, one Wethersfield (Essex).

  In the interests of openness, efficiency and better use of resources, the Consultative Document itself has been posted on the Defence Munitions Web Site where it can be viewed by MOD staff as required. It was also sent electronically to each Defence Munitions establishment at Beith, Crombie, Glen Douglas, Gosport, Kineton, Longtown and Plymouth. Each DM Depot reproduced sufficient hard copies from this for their local needs as appropriate. Main MOD customers and stakeholders were advised of the existence of the Consultative Document on the DM Web Site.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Director of Military Operations participated in Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2. [68908]

  Mr. Ingram
  Director of Military Operations did not participate in the Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2. The study drew its knowledge of anticipated Tri Service munitions requirements from both the current and
  1233W
  future munitions equipment owners who were asked to take into account the latest output from the Ministry of Defence's Stockpile Planning Group.

  Other MOD customers and internal stakeholders (particularly Strike Command given the nature of the RAF tasks currently undertaken at Defence Munitions Dean Hill) have been made aware of the proposal to close DM Dean Hill.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the recommendations of Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 will achieve a 20 per cent reduction in operating costs by March 2004. [68914]

  Mr. Ingram
  Defence Munitions is part of the DG Defence Supply Chain (DG Def SC) that, in turn, is part of the Defence Logistics Organisation. Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 identified a number of potential efficiency initiatives pertinent to the Defence Munitions environment, including the proposal to close Defence Munitions Dean Hill. Taken together as a package these initiatives will, if implemented, contribute towards the DG Def SC Strategic Plan which is designed to deliver a 20 per cent reduction in operating costs by Financial Year 2005–06.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications were made to the terms of reference for Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 after 11 September 2001. [68913]

  Mr. Ingram
  There were no modifications made to the Terms of Reference for the Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 after 11 September 2001.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the team responsible for Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 presented their final report. [68910]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 presented their final report to the Defence Munitions Management Board in February 2002. There then followed an internal Departmental approvals procedure which culminated in a submission to Minister (Armed Forces) in June 2002.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 included a strategic analysis. [68909]

  Mr. Ingram
  Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 was in itself a strategic analysis of the Defence Munitions business. Among those elements addressed were:

  Capacity versus long-term liability

  Risk to outputs

  Uniqueness of facilities

  Transferability of tasks

  Proximity to customers

  Health and safety and explosives safety regulations

  Scale and quality of facilities

  Cost of transferring tasks

  Remediation

  Potential savings to operating costs

  Potential site realisable value

  1234W
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if private sector commercial advice was sought by(a) Defence Estates Organisation and (b) the Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 team in their assessment of the likely sale value of Dean Hill Munitions Depot. [68911]

  Mr. Ingram
  In June 2001 Defence Estates South West were requested to provide an outline desktop valuation of the Dean Hill Munitions Site to inform the Defence Munitions Rationalisation Study 2 Investment Appraisal. Given the nature of the valuation requested no external advice was sought.

  HMS Nottingham
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last refit of HMS Nottingham was; how long she has been deployed on her current deployment; what task she is carrying out; and if he will make a statement. [68771]

  Mr. Ingram
  HMS Nottingham's last refit began in August 1999 and she returned to the Fleet in February 2001 following sea trials.

  HMS Nottingham deployed from Portsmouth on 18 March 2002 and was scheduled to return to the United Kingdom on 6 December 2002. She deployed for duties as the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) ship but was subsequently assigned to Operation ORACLE in support of the fight against terrorism and was being held at notice for this purpose while deployed to the Asia Pacific to honour our commitments to the FPDA. The main focus of this deployment was to have been participation in the FPDA Exercise STARDEX in September with other FPDA partners (Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore). HMS Nottingham was also scheduled to undertake a series of visits in support of Defence Diplomacy, wider security objectives, and Defence Export Services and United Kingdom industry initiatives. Her immediate programme will no longer proceed. The impact on Fleet programming is being assessed.

  Prisoners of War/Unlawful Combatants
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy to treat POWs and captured unlawful combatants in the same manner. [69008]

  Mr. Hoon
  It is the Government's policy to treat both POWs and unlawful combatants in accordance with their rights under the Geneva Convention.

  Rosyth Dockyard
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is the intention of his Department to cease the allocation of surface ship refits to Rosyth Dockyard in 2005; and what plans he has to allocate further refits to Rosyth Dockyard. [69402]

  Mr. Ingram
  The last refit in the programme of surface ship work allocated to Rosyth Dockyard is due to be completed in 2005. There are no plans to allocate further refit work to the Dockyard, as the Department is opening up the wider ship refit and repair programme to competition. Rosyth Dockyard is expected to bid for that work.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what representations she has received from the UK pig industry about overseas restrictions on the export of British pigs; [64463]

  (2) what representations she has made, and to which countries, to remove restrictions on the export of pigs from the United Kingdom. [64462]

  Margaret Beckett
  I have received a number of letters from the UK pig industry, which is naturally anxious that overseas restrictions on the import of British pigs are removed as soon as possible. The Chief Veterinary Officer wrote to his opposite numbers in other countries on 25 January this year asking them to recognise the UK's foot and mouth disease free status and requesting import certification requirements for livestock and genetic material. Officials in my Department are working closely with representatives from the livestock industry to identify the priority markets and to pursuade those countries to lift any remaining restrictions. The priority countries for pigs and porcine genetic material include Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Thailand, USA. This is being pursued by a variety of methods such as lobbying officials at trade shows, bringing them in on inward missions, getting British Embassies to make representations and through further correspondence.

  Fox Hunting
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which interested parties received an invitation to contribute to the consultation on the future of fox hunting; which of those bodies she(a) has met and (b) plans to meet before the consultation finishes; and if she will make a statement. [64362]

  Margaret Beckett
  My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) continues to meet with representatives of the three main interest organisations on a regular basis. They are the Countryside Alliance, the Middle Way Group and the Campaign for the Protection of the Hunted Animal. In addition to these regular meetings, he is holding a number of meetings with a wide range of groups with more specific interests

  Following my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 21 March, he has written to all Members of both Houses of Parliament, Welsh Assembly members, interested individuals and interested organisations.

  Overcharging
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to implement the NAO recommendation on the pursuit of cases where the Department believes it was overcharged for goods and services and the investigation and resolution of irregularities in contractors' claims. [65188]
  1236W
  Mr. Morley
  The accounts of the principal contractors used by DEFRA during the FMD outbreak have been the subject of detailed examination. This has been an extensive exercise as the contractors concerned carried out work to the value of hundreds of millions of pounds involving the generation of tens of thousands of invoices. This work is on-going.

  It has necessitated DEFRA obtaining legal advice from a number of external law firms as well as the establishment of invoicing panels and commercial teams staffed by forensic accountants and quantity surveyors, all of whom come from external professional firms.

  It is on the recommendation of these panels and teams following examination of the accounts that further payments have been made by DEFRA to contractors and/or deductions have been sought from the contractors' invoiced sums. In many cases, the deductions have been substantial. The process is on-going.

  Wide-ranging issues have arisen on the accounts. These include legal issues such as matters of contractual interpretation, forensic accountancy issues and evidential issues involving the assessment of both a large amount of documentation and proofing of witnesses.

  Some of these disputes will inevitably result in court proceedings although DEFRA remains committed to resolving matters by mediation where appropriate. We will have no hesitation in taking whatever action is required to protect taxpayer interest in the light of forensic examination of the accounts of contractors.

  EU Management Committee
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for poultrymeat and eggs is next due to meet; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [64889]

  Mr. Morley
  The next meeting of the EU Poultrymeat and Eggs Management Committee will be held on Tuesday, 17 September 2002. UK representation depends on the agenda items under discussion. Officials from the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations attend as necessary in accordance with their interests. However, there have been no occasions in the last 12 months where the Scottish Executive have sought to have an official form part of the delegation.

  CO2 Emissions
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars is next due to meet; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66460]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  At present there are no meetings of the Committee of Directive 99/94/EC scheduled. Fuel consumption and CO2 labelling of passenger cars is a reserved issue and

  1237W
  Committee meetings would therefore generally be attended by officials of the Department for Transport only. However, officials will continue to ensure that their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations are kept informed of developments in this area and consulted on any proposals to amend the directive put to the Committee.

  My response on 21 May 2002 to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow), Official Report, column 214W–15W, was incorrect. It stated that this Committee had not yet met, whereas it did in fact meet on 15 November 2000 to agree a format for reporting on the effectiveness of the Directive. Since this question was answered, the Committee has met a further time although as yet no proposals to amend the Directive have been received.

  Marine Pollution
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community framework for co-operation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution is next due to meet; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66450]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Management Committee on Marine Pollution is scheduled to meet on 4 October 2002 in Brussels. Officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), part of my Department, represents the UK on the Committee. However, my officials consult the Scottish Executive on agenda items in which it might have an interest in accordance with our Concordat with the Devolved Administrations.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken is(a) in the territory of each of her Department's regional offices, and (b) in England, between an animal reacting positive to a test for Bovine TB and that animal being taken for slaughter. [65472]

  Margaret Beckett
  The information requested is given in the table below.

  The average length of time taken to remove TB-infected reactors from farms in each State Veterinary Service region with a breakdown between 21 June 2001 and 20 June 2002

  SVS Region

  Number of observations

  Average no. days between date of reading the tuberculin test and date of slaughter

  West

  968

  30.4

  East

  21

  13.1

  North

  92

  9.7

  England total

  1081

  17.7

  Note:

  The TB-infected reactors reported are animals with a reaction to the tuberculin test that were compulsorily slaughtered and had samples submitted to VLA for microbiology. Provided that they (a) had lesions of TB visible at the slaughterhouse, and/or (b) VLA found the TB organism in the sample.
  1238W
  The time reported represents the number of days between reading the skin test and removing an animal from the farm.

  Figures for West region include cases where animals became reactors in the month before the disruption of normal TB control procedures caused by Foot and Mouth Disease.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff have contributed to her Department's input to the Spending Review. [68680]

  Mr. Morley
  A small team of six staff reporting to the Director of Finance has co-ordinated input to the Spending Review, drawing on material contributed by staff across the Department.

  National Parks
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the report of the Review of National Park Authorities will be published. [70288]

  Mr. Michael
  The report will be published tomorrow. Copies will be available in the House libraries and the vote office. The report will also be available on the Department's website: www:efra.gsi.gov.uk/ countryside-wildlife. The responses to the public consultation will be deposited in the Department's library.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Solicitor-General what category of offences require the appointment of(a) a senior Treasury counsel, (b) a leading junior counsel and (c) a disclosure counsel by the CPS. [68084]

  Solicitor-General
  There are no categories of offence which require the appointment of a particular type of counsel but guidance is as follows:

  (a) Senior Treasury counsel:

  The appointment of Treasury Counsel ought to be considered for prosecutions of the following offences:

  Murder (including attempt/conspiracy/incitement).

  Manslaughter.

  Offences involving terrorism.

  Official Secrets Act.

  Unduly Lenient Sentences.

  Cases where the Director (or the court) wishes to brief counsel as Amicus (Advocate to the Court), e.g. where PII is an issue.

  Obscene Publications Act offences involving difficult questions of law or which are considered "sensitive", e.g. racial hatred.

  Offences of "special rarity", e.g. blasphemy, piracy.

  Serious offences committed by public servants (including police officers) tried at the Crown Court. the magistrates having declined jurisdiction.
  1239W
  Serious offences by a public figure or person in the public eye.

  Serious offences by a CPS employee.

  Large scale public disorder.

  Serious offences where the evidence includes a participating informer/cover police operation.

  Offences where the prosecution is likely to make an ex parte application to withhold disclosure of sensitive material on PII grounds.

  Offences by members of organised crime syndicates, e.g. Mafia; Triads; Yardies.

  Multiple indictable only offences committed by one or more people, e.g. serial/gang rapes

  Robberies where a firearm was discharged.

  Large scale/complex frauds.

  "Sensitive" frauds, e.g. frauds:

  (i) involving foreign government or foreign public bodies;

  (ii) involving British public bodies or public figures in this country as either victims or defendants, e.g. very high profile businessmen; national or local politicians;

  Local government officers; persons holding public office:

  (i) which might generate grave public disquiet, e.g. offences by doctors or pharmacists against hospitals or the NHS;

  (ii) involving national or local government spending and procurement;

  (iii) where public confidence may be undermined, e.g. Pension fund frauds.

  The list is not exhaustive and there will be other cases of sensitivity or complexity, which, regardless of the offence type, may warrant instructing Treasury Counsel.

  Treasury Counsel are appointed by the Attorney General to advise on, and if necessary present, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, prosecutions of important and complex cases at the Central Criminal Court and other London Courts.

  (b) leading junior counsel

  The CPS will adopt objective criteria in its decision to instruct a leading junior counsel. This will depend on a number of factors:

  Number of defendants charged on the indictment.

  The volume of the case (pages of documents).

  The weight and complexity of the evidence.

  Whether there are significant factors of gravity, sensitivity complexity or responsibility to warrant a leading junior counsel.

  (c) disclosure counsel by the CPS

  The appointment/instruction of a disclosure counsel is considered by the CPS according to the merits of the individual case rather than by reference to any category of offences.

  The term "disclosure counsel" is not commonly applied across CPS. In a small number of cases, junior counsel can be instructed specifically to assist in complex cases where there are voluminous quantities of unused material to be examined.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Drugs (Sport)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place a copy of Dr. Richard Johnson's report on drugs administration in the UK commissioned by the UK Sports Council in the Library.[69508]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) on 9 July 2002,Official Report, column 865W.

  Overseas Tourist Offices
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many tourist offices the UK has overseas; where they are located; and what plans she has to extend the UK tourist offices overseas. [66084]

  Dr. Howells
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 July 2002, c. 515W]The British Tourist Authority is active in Austria, Finland and Saudi Arabia but does not have physical offices in these countries. These markets are operated from the BTA's offices in Zurich, Stockholm and Dubai respectively.

CABINET OFFICE

  Government Targets
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list those targets which apply across Government and which are not contained in individual Departments' public service agreements. [64608]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office is responsible for the following such targets.

  Targets which apply across government have been incorporated into its own Public Service Agreement (PSA) and across Departments through the guidance on Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) which underpin PSAs. Examples include targets on:

  electronic delivery;

  handling correspondence promptly;

  Civil Service Reform including diversity, interchange, sickness absence and other aspects of managing people.

  Departmental PSAs/SDAs and related guidance are available on the HM Treasury website.

  An area which is not currently included in PSA/SDAs is the National Learning Targets for 2002 which were adopted by the Civil Service in 1999:

  50 per cent of adults to have at least a "level 3" qualification (roughly equivalent to 2 A-levels);

  28 per cent of adults to have at least a "level 4" qualification (roughly equivalent to a first degree).

  These are monitored separately by the Civil Service Corporate Management and Reform group within Cabinet Office.

TREASURY

  Waste Minimisation
  Mr. Lazarowic
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set aside funds in the comprehensive spending review to invest in waste minimisation. [68670]

  Mr. Boateng
  Spending Review 2002 is still under way, and until its completion it would be premature to comment on specific elements.

  Waste growth is part of the broader challenge of reforming waste management in the UK. The Performance and Innovation Unit is currently undertaking a thorough review of waste policy, and waste minimisation is one of the issues that the Performance and Innovation Unit will address in their forthcoming report.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times since December 1998 he has met Ministers from other Government Departments to review progress in achieving public service agreements; and if he will make a statement. [69299]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Cabinet Committee on Public Services and Public Expenditure, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, meets regularly to discuss progress by departments against their PSA targets.

  Barnett Formula
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the calculations relating to the provision for Scotland under the Barnett formula are based upon spend per head of population on(a) health and (b) education. [69400]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Barnett formula provides the devolved Administrations with a population based share of comparable increases in spending of UK Government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills.

  Contingent Liabilities
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list contingent liabilities incurred by Government departments since May 1997 with the permission of the Treasury; and if he will make a statement. [69349]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer the hon. Member to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts Supplementary Statements. Those for 2000–01 were published on 19 December 2001 (HC 381 of 2000–01) and follow the reporting pattern in the Supplementary Statements for each of the financial years from 1997–98 to 1999–2000. They list all non-statutory contingent liabilities which are reportable to Parliament under the guidance in chapter 26 of Government Accounting. The
  1242W
  guidance requires a department, when reporting a contingent liability to state that the Treasury has approved it in principle. The Supplementary Statements also list all statutory contingent liabilities incurred where they are above £100,000.

  Travel Insurance
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to review the regulation of the selling of travel insurance. [69512]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury will issue a consultation document on the proposed new regulatory regime for the sale of general insurance following the adoption of the Insurance Mediation Directive.

  Silver Items
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his plans are for the future of the Treasury's silver items formerly associated with the Privy Council. [70452]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has agreed to transfer the items concerned to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This will ensure that the cost of holding them is borne by the Department whose objectives include broadening access for all to a rich and varied cultural life. That Department will lend them to the Victoria and Albert Museum, on condition that they are shared with appropriate regional institutions. The transfer will ensure that the items are available to public view for the first time in many years.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Licences
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many arms export licences have been granted in the last 12 months; how many have been rejected; and if she will make a statement. [66750]

  Ms Hewitt
  Between 1 July 2001 and 1 July 2002 the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation issued 6,449 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 312 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) for items on the military list. During that same period the ECO refused 137 SIEL and 4 OIEL applications in full, for items on the military list.

  Details of all relevant export licences issued and refused are published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls; copies of which are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a decision will be made in relation to individual export licence applications numbered 35307, 35313, 35315 and 35316. [68051]

  Ms Hewitt
  Licences to export arms and other items whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by me as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through the Export Control Organisation (ECO).
  1243W
  Decisions have not yet been reached on export licence applications 35307, 35313, 35315 and 35316. but will be taken as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration is given during the deliberation of export licence applications to the recent human rights record of the country to which the items in question are being exported; and if she will make a statement. [68510]

  Mr. O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  All relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time and taking account of other relevant factors. The consolidated criteria were announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe in a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt) on 26 October 2000, Official Report, column 199–203W. The criteria clearly set out our commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be used for internal repression. In making our assessments we take account of reliable evidence, including for example, reporting from diplomatic posts, relevant reports by international bodies, intelligence and information from open sources and non-governmental organisations. This will include any relevant information about the recent human rights record of the recipient country.

  Recycling
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of(a) paper and (b) other goods purchased by her Department was recycled paper in each year since 1997; what the annual total cost of these purchases was; what plans there are to increase these proportions; and if he will make a statement. [65764]

  Ms Hewitt
  The proportion and cost of recycled paper purchased is as follows:

  Year

  Proportion of recycled per cent

  Annual Cost (£)

  1997–98

  18

  55,333

  1998–99

  11

  36,999

  1999–2000

  44

  104,817

  2000–01

  61

  137,985

  2001–02

  68

  141,540

  Information on the proportion of recycled paper in other goods purchased is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Cash terms

  14,172

  14,470

  14,781

  15,582

  16,663

  Real terms

  15.827

  15,656

  15,551

  15,940

  16,663

  (base year = 1999)

  The percentage funded privately (businesses and private non-profit organisations) and publicly
  1244W
  I am fully committed to increasing the proportion of recycled paper that is being used and my Department is working closely with our stationery supplier to achieve this. An environmental switch programme was recently introduced for the purchase of copier paper via the on-line stationery ordering system. This involves an automatic switch to the recycled option whenever copier paper is selected.

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets she has set her Department's National Weights and Measures Laboratory. [70222]

  Miss Johnson
  I have set the National Weights and Measures Laboratory the following quality of service and efficiency targets for 2002–03.

  Financial Targets To report a deficit of no more than £310,000 in the Income and Expenditure Account for 2002–03.

  To achieve £566,000 worth of new external income during the next four years.

  Efficiency Target To contribute to continuous efficiency improvement by ensuring that total overhead costs are less than 58 per cent. of total costs.

  Operational Targets To meet the expectations of its customers by completing at least 90 per cent. of European type approvals within 10 weeks.

  To complete European type approvals within an average of 5 weeks.

  To complete calibration jobs within the time requested by customers, with at least 95 per cent. of all jobs (including preparation of certificates) completed within 18 working days of acceptance of the work and an average completion time of less than 14 days.

  To complete 72 per cent. of the milestones schedule for year I of the National Measurement System (NMS) legal metrology programme by their due dates.

  To satisfy all its customers as demonstrated by at least 95 per cent. of them rating NWML's provision of services as satisfactory or better.

  Questions Delegated to the Chief Executive Chief Executive to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

  Scientific Research
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the total amount spent on scientific research that has taken place in the UK in each of the last five years; and what her estimate is of the proportions that were funded(a) privately and (b) publicly. [61092]

  Ms Hewitt
  The total amount spent on research and development in the UK in £ billion is as follows:

  (government departments, Research Councils and Funding Councils) is as follows:
  1245W

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Private

  52

  51

  54

  51

  54

  Public

  34

  33

  32

  32

  29

  The balance (14 to 18 per cent.) comes from abroad and includes contributions from the EU. Further information can be found in Table 6.3 on the Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ost/setstats.

  The increase in the level of R&D investment by the private sector funders indicates that greater "leverage" is being achieved by the Government investment in science, and that the publicly funded UK Science Base is fit for purpose in meeting the requirements of those other groups in society which fund.

  Nuclear Industry (Special Advisers)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many special advisers in her Department(a) have had experience of the nuclear industry and (b) of advising the nuclear industry. [69399]

  Ms Hewitt
  No special adviser in the department has, or ever has had, a commercial relationship with a company in the nuclear industry. However they have experience of working with representatives of the nuclear industry and will consult with them from time to time as part of their current job, just as they consult routinely with other companies, organisations and interest groups.

  Ministerial Visits (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) date, (b) location and
  (c) purpose was of visits by Ministers in her Department to Wales since 1997; and when she next intends to visit Wales. [62071]

  Ms Hewitt
  Since 1999 this Government have published an annual list of all visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. This Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Information in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  DTI Ministers have plans to undertake engagements in Wales before the end of the year.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on Projects of Common Interest in the Field of trans-European Telecommunications Networks (TEN-telecom) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68572]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Committee on the trans-European telecommunications networks (TEN-Telecom) pro-gramme is next due to meet on 29 October 2002. One 1246W
  official from the Department of Trade and Industry normally represents all of the UK. Officials from the devolved Administrations are consulted as appropriate.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many oral questions she has transferred to other departments in each of the last 18 months. [67048]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  January 2001

  0

  February

  0

  March

  3

  May

  3

  July

  3

  November (2 oral sessions)

  8

  January 2002

  2

  February

  2

  March

  2

  May

  3

  June

  6

  World Trade Organisation
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's negotiating position with regard to(a) TRIPS and (b) GATS with the WTO framework. [66867]

  Ms Hewitt
  On TRIPS, we are strong advocates of the need to find a solution by the end of 2002 to the problem of the difficulties which some WTO Members could face in making effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement as a result of having insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector.

  Beyond that, we support continued discussions in the TRIPS Council on the relationship between TRIPS and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and how TRIPS and the CBD can be implemented in a mutually supportive manner.

  We also support the EC position in the TRIPS Council on considering the possible extension of protection for Geographical Indications.

  On GATS, the Government strongly support the current negotiations. The UK is the second largest exporter of services in the world. Our aim is to achieve further steps in the progressive liberalisation of trade in services, which we believe will have a positive impact not only on our own economic interests but also on the development of developing countries. That said, the EC has made clear in its liberalisation requests that it is not seeking the dismantling of public services nor the privatisation of state owned companies. Under GATS, countries cannot be forced to privatise services where it is not in their interest to do so.

  Business Regulation
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses by introducing regulations that would lapse after a certain time period. [69077]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Government's policy is always to consider whether sunset clauses ought to be included in legislation it brings forward.

  These are appropriate particularly where technology in a given sector is changing rapidly, where a given piece of legislation deals with a situation which is itself expected to last only for a given period of time (e.g., a road closure), or where an issue is so sensitive that it is considered appropriate that it should be regularly debated and reviewed.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Church Commission Properties
  Ms Buck
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many Church Commission properties are let on assured shorthold tenancies; and how many tenants holding assured shorthold tenancies have not had these renewed on request in the last three years. [68246]

  Mr. Bell
  The Church Commissioners have 781 Assured Shorthold Tenancies. No records are kept as to how many tenants do not have their tenancies renewed upon request but it is estimated that there have been approximately 25 such cases in the last three years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time has been between initial decisions in asylum cases and the hearing of appeals arising from them in the last 12 months. [68637]

  Beverley Hughes
  The requested information is not available and could only be obtained by examination of individual cases files thereby incurring a disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from Zimbabwe have been turned back at point of entry since 15 January. [49967]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Government are committed to ensuring that this country adheres to its obligations under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and that those who are fleeing persecution are given the protection they need. It is not Home Office policy to turn asylum seekers back at ports of entry to the United Kingdom at any time before their claims are fully considered, unless there is an alternative safe country which should he responsible for considering the claim.
  1248W
  On 15 January 2002, we announced a temporary suspension of returns of unsuccessful asylum applicants to Zimbabwe. We will resume returns only when we are satisfied that it is safe to do so. We are monitoring events in the aftermath of the Zimbabwe presidential election before making a decision on the resumption of returns.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was from first application to initial decison in asylum cases in each of the last six months. [68647]

  Beverley Hughes
  The data requested are given in the table.

  Average time from date of application to initial decision for initial decisions made between October 2001 and March 20021,2,3,4

  Month of initial decision

  Average time (months) to initial decision

  October 2001

  12

  November 2001

  11

  December 2001

  8

  January 2002

  8

  February 2002

  7

  March 2002

  7

  1Excluding dependants.

  2Figures are estimates based on cases for which information is recorded.

  3The average length of time (in months) is calculated from date application is lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the month in which the decisions were made.

  4Provisional data. These data are still subject to revision following quality checking.

  The corresponding figure for April 1997 was 20 months.

  The latest provisional data indicate that 53 per cent. of applications' received in the period April to December 2001, inclusive, had initial decisions reached and served within two months'. The data are subject to revision following the results of further data cleansing. Data for 2001–2002 will be published on the Home Office RDS website on 30 August, subject to data quality.

  5The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND's) target for 2001–02 is to reach and serve initial decisions on 60 per cent of applications. These exclude 3rd country cases which may be the responsibility of other European Union member states under the terms of the Dublin Convention,. Details of government targets relating to the proportion of decisions served within two months are provided in the 2000 Spending Review Public Service Agreements White Paper available from http://www.treasury.gov.uk/

  "Two months" is defined as 61 days.

  ASBOs
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ASBOs have been made in Surrey in each of the last 12 months. [68624]

  Mr. Denham
  Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The data given in the table show the number of ASBOs reported to the Home Office up to the end of December 2001 (latest available).

  Number of anti-social behaviour orders issued within Surrey from 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2001.

  1 April 1999–31 December 20001

  1 January 2001–31 December 2001

  Total

  2

  2

  4

  1From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 information collected on the total number of ASBOs issued by police force area only.

  1249W
  We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of the number reported.

  Pension Schemes
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the proportion of the rise in Government liabilities resulting from unfunded parts of the police and fire pension scheme in the last five years due to(a) wage inflation, (b) longevity, (c) extension of the rights of part-time workers and (d) other factors; and if he will make a statement. [67025]

  Mr. Denham
  In relation to the police pension scheme, which is unfunded, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 1 July 2002 given by myself to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Andrew Turner),Official Report, column 186W. There is no baseline at present by which to measure the increase in liabilities, but the main driving factors are price inflation, and real earnings growth for current employees and new pensioners.

  Matters relating to firefighters' pensions are for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

  ID Cards
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce ID cards; at what estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [67203]

  Beverley Hughes
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a statement to the House on 3 July 2002, announcing the publication of a consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud. The consultation period will last until 10 January 2003. The Government have made it clear that the introduction of an entitlement card would be a major step and that it would not proceed without consulting widely and considering all the views expressed very carefully.

  The paper includes a number of estimates of what a scheme would cost, depending on the sophistication of the card. A reasonable estimate would be that a scheme would cost around £1.5 billion over a 13 year period covering the three years it would take to set up the necessary Information Technology systems and the 10 year period for which the first cards would be valid.

  This would include much more stringent identity checks than currently apply for passports and driving licences in response to increased levels of fraudulent applications.

  It would also include the costs of using biometric information (fingerprints or iris images) which would uniquely link the card holder with a card.

  This estimate does not include any savings to Government through more efficient administration and reductions in fraud. The paper also sets out how the costs might be recovered through increases in fees for driving licences and passports and charging a fee for entitlement cards issued to those who did not qualify for or who did not want to apply for a card in the form of a photocard driving licence or passport card. It would not be the Government's intention to use funds allocated for investment in public services for a card scheme.

  Brixton Cannabis Experiment
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the objectives and criteria for success were of the Brixton experiment on policing cannabis use. [67191]

  Mr. Ainsworth
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the key objective for the Lambeth cannabis pilot study was to allow police officers to devote more time to deal with serious crimes by reducing the amount of time they spent at the police station completing the necessary paperwork associated with persons arrested for the possession of cannabis.

  During the initial pilot period, a total of 13:50 hours were saved.

  Over the period of the pilot there was a 10 per cent. increase in arrests for Class A dealings, and a 44 per cent. increase in arrests for dealing crack.

  Police
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people died in police custody in 2001. [68017]

  Mr. Denham
  Sixty-four people died in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police during 2001. Two of these deaths occurred in police stations.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the overall crime detection rate for each police force in England in each year from 1990–91 to 2001–02; if he will rank each force in order of highest to lowest detection rate for the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [66883]

  Mr. Denham
  Details for the calendar years 1990 to 1997, and financial years thereafter, were published in table 2.11 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 2000", and are given in the table.

  There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which increased the total number of crimes counted in each police force area, and therefore may have affected the detection rate. Detection rates after this date are therefore not directly comparable with previous years.

  There was a change in the counting rules for detections on 1 April 1999, the new instructions providing more precise and rigorous criteria for securing a detection, with the underlying emphasis on the successful result of a police investigation. For example, detections obtained by the interview of a convicted prisoner were no longer included. Numbers of detections before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

  As different police forces have different crime mixes, comparing overall detection rates between forces is of limited value. This is because different types of crime tend to have different detection rates, and so a police force with which has a higher proportion of types of crime with high detection rates will tend to have a higher overall detection rate. Also, police forces may give priority to tackling particular types of crime, with the detection rate of those crimes having some effect on the force's overall detection rate.
  1251W

  England and Wales 1990–2000/01 Percentages

  Police force area

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1997–81

  1998–92

  1999–20003

  2000–013

  Suffolk

  41

  37

  39

  37

  35

  34

  33

  37

  39

  41

  36

  35

  Devon and Cornwall

  32

  29

  18

  25

  27

  27

  30

  32

  34

  36

  35

  34

  Cumbria

  43

  40

  37

  38

  37

  40

  36

  40

  41

  44

  39

  34

  Durham

  34

  30

  30

  30

  32

  30

  30

  31

  30

  33

  32

  34

  Northamptonshire

  35

  31

  30

  27

  31

  28

  34

  35

  35

  33

  33

  33

  Gloucestershire

  33

  35

  24

  20

  24

  27

  23

  24

  26

  31

  31

  31

  Northumbria

  40

  35

  17

  20

  22

  23

  24

  26

  26

  30

  31

  31

  North Yorkshire

  40

  36

  33

  30

  25

  23

  25

  26

  26

  33

  31

  30

  Wiltshire

  44

  40

  37

  35

  36

  32

  29

  32

  32

  38

  33

  30

  Cheshire

  50

  41

  29

  26

  30

  31

  34

  36

  34

  37

  31

  30

  Hampshire

  32

  28

  26

  26

  27

  28

  28

  30

  30

  35

  32

  29

  West Midlands

  36

  31

  27

  27

  25

  24

  23

  24

  25

  30

  27

  28

  Leicestershire

  36

  29

  30

  28

  30

  29

  31

  34

  34

  34

  30

  28

  Surrey4

  27

  23

  22

  20

  30

  31

  29

  33

  35

  40

  32

  28

  Merseyside

  44

  45

  42

  39

  33

  27

  29

  31

  31

  31

  26

  28

  Kent

  25

  23

  27

  25

  29

  26

  32

  31

  31

  34

  33

  28

  Bedfordshire

  19

  19

  20

  21

  22

  22

  33

  35

  35

  33

  25

  27

  West Mercia

  46

  35

  34

  29

  29

  28

  26

  28

  27

  34

  29

  27

  London, City of

  21

  20

  20

  22

  27

  23

  27

  26

  28

  33

  32

  27

  Lancashire

  44

  40

  37

  35

  33

  34

  33

  29

  29

  34

  29

  27

  Essex4

  29

  32

  29

  32

  36

  33

  29

  27

  28

  29

  30

  26

  Norfolk

  37

  37

  34

  28

  34

  31

  32

  37

  36

  37

  30

  26

  Derbyshire

  32

  28

  22

  21

  21

  20

  21

  25

  26

  31

  28

  26

  South Yorkshire

  44

  36

  26

  20

  24

  24

  23

  29

  32

  32

  25

  25

  Dorset

  35

  41

  32

  33

  30

  28

  27

  29

  30

  31

  26

  25

  Lincolnshire

  43

  46

  39

  37

  32

  39

  42

  46

  40

  28

  25

  Cambridgeshire

  38

  36

  27

  25

  25

  19

  24

  27

  28

  29

  25

  24

  Hertfordshire4

  30

  33

  26

  21

  24

  28

  30

  32

  33

  34

  27

  24

  Sussex

  26

  23

  23

  24

  24

  28

  29

  26

  26

  25

  25

  23

  Staffordshire

  39

  37

  30

  29

  31

  32

  34

  35

  34

  32

  22

  23

  West Yorkshire

  34

  28

  25

  18

  20

  21

  24

  27

  27

  27

  25

  23

  Warwickshire

  29

  24

  23

  21

  24

  25

  24

  27

  29

  26

  22

  22

  Thames Valley

  26

  22

  19

  21

  22

  23

  25

  24

  25

  25

  20

  22

  Greater Manchester

  32

  36

  35

  34

  34

  24

  17

  20

  20

  25

  23

  22

  Avon and Somerset

  29

  24

  17

  17

  21

  23

  24

  26

  26

  24

  22

  22

  Cleveland

  25

  33

  32

  27

  19

  25

  24

  25

  23

  23

  22

  21

  Humberside

  37

  32

  23

  16

  17

  19

  20

  20

  21

  22

  19

  21

  Nottinghamshire

  35

  27

  26

  29

  28

  23

  28

  28

  26

  25

  21

  20

  Metropolitan Police4

  17

  17

  16

  17

  23

  25

  23

  26

  25

  22

  16

  15

  England

  31

  29

  25

  25

  26

  26

  26

  28

  28

  28

  24

  24

  1 The number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the coverage and rules in use until 31 March 1998.

  2 The number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.

  3 Revised detections guidance was implemented on 1 April 1999. The new instructions provide more precise and rigorous criteria for recording a detection, with the underlying emphasis on the successful result of a police investigation.

  4 On 1.4.2000, parts of the Metropolitan police area were transferred to Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire. This may have had an effect on detection rates in those areas.

  Police Custody
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) fatalities and (b) suicides have taken place among those in police custody in each year since 1992. [68234]

  Year

  Total number of deaths in police custody

  Deaths that occurred in police stations

  Inquest verdicts of suicide

  Inquest verdicts awaited

  1992

  48

  17

  6

  0

  1993

  31

  16

  4

  0

  1994

  39

  17

  12

  0

  1995–96

  50

  22

  12

  0

  1996–97

  57

  16

  5

  0

  1997–98

  69

  11

  11

  0

  1998–99

  67

  16

  12

  1

  1999–2000

  70

  7

  10

  1

  2000–01

  53

  5

  3

  8

  1252W
  Mr. Denham
  The Home Office publishes annual statistics of deaths in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police. Relevant figures derived from those statistics are shown in the following table. Statistics for 2001–02 are currently being finalised.

  Crime Fighting Fund
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level he plans to set the crime fighting fund in future years; and what plans he has to fund an increase in the number of police officers. [68040]

  Mr. Denham
  Under the Government's Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, forces have been allocated funding for 9,000 recruits over and above their previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003 which will ensure a total 130,000 officers by April 2003.

  £454 million has been provided to cover the cost of officers recruited under the scheme during these three years. In addition, the Spending Review 2000 also provided £272 million for 2003–04 to meet the continuing cost of officers recruited under the CFF initiative.

  Provision for funding CFF officers beyond 2003–04 is a matter for the current Spending Review. Further provision for the Crime Fighting Fund or other central government funding specifically to increase the number of police officers will be determined in the light of the outcome of the Spending Review 2002.

  Police Authority Budgets
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what adjustments he proposes to make to the base budget of police authorities relating to funding for officers. [68039]

  Mr. Denham
  Total Standard Spending for police authorities will be determined in the light of the outcome of the Spending Review 2002. It is for police authorities to determine their own budgets in the light of funding available to them.

  PC Taiwo Oduntan
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police service and inspectorate is reporting to him on the assault on British Transport police constable Taiwo Oduntan. [68074]

  Mr. Denham
  Sussex Police are investigating the matter on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service, as agreed by the Police Complaints Authority. The Police Complaints Authority inform us that the agreed terms of reference are:

  To investigate objectively and thoroughly the circumstances surrounding an incident that took place on 22 April 2002, when Taiwo Oduntan was arrested at his home address by officers of the Metropolitan Police Service, detained at Uxbridge Police Station, and suffered injuries;

  To investigate specifically the allegation that the actions of the officers were racially motivated;

  To take full account of the perspective of each party to the investigative process; and

  To ensure that the investigation itself is non-discriminatory.

  There is no involvement of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary at present but the Police Complaints Authority informs us that any issues of concern will be highlighted to them at the conclusion of the investigation.

  Street Crime
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role Baroness Blackstone has in overseeing the street crime initiative of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary; and if he will make a statement. [67692]

  Mr. Denham
  The cross-government Street Crime Action Group, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agreed that it would be helpful for each of the 10 street crime areas to be supported by a minister. As one of the sponsor ministers Baroness Blackstone is undertaking visits to Avon and Somerset to meet with and support local agencies, to promote a shared approach to tackling street crime at local level, and to identify any issues on which further action by government agencies would be helpful.

  Illegal Working
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for illegal working have taken place in the last 12 months; and with what results. [68644]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is not available centrally, as illegal working is a circumstance rather than a specific offence and the Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not hold information on offence circumstances. However, in the year 2000, 32 persons were prosecuted under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. This section makes it an offence for employers knowingly or negligently to employ persons aged 16 or over who are subject to immigration control unless they fall into one of two categories. They must either have current and valid permission to be in the United Kingdom which does not prevent them taking the job in question, or they must fall into a category where such employment is otherwise allowed.

  Information on the number of prosecutions in 2001 is due to be published in the Command Paper "Control of Immigration Statistics United Kingdom 2001" in late autumn of this year.

  Heart Detector Machines
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time staff are employed at(a) Dover and (b) Folkestone to operate a heart detector machine. [68629]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are the equivalent of 68 immigration officers, based on the number of staff days worked in a typical week, deployed on freight searching duties at Dover. The officers operate the heartbeat detector as well as other methods for detecting clandestine illegal entrants, such as dogs and carbon dioxide detectors.

  The heartbeat detector is not deployed at Folkestone. However the Immigration Service deploys 56 officers in the United Kingdom Control Zone at Coquelles to operate the heartbeat detector and other detection methods.

  Robbery
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost to public funds is of the failure to achieve the Public Service Agreement target to reduce robbery. [68777]

  Mr. Denham
  The Public Service Agreement target is to reduce robbery in the Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, West Midlands and Metropolitan Police Service areas by 14 per cent by 2005. The target is ongoing and the forces concerned are continuing to work towards its delivery.

  Police Treatment of Detainees
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the PACE Code of Practice on police treatment of detainees will be issued for consultation; and how long the consultation will last.
  [68789]

  Mr. Denham
  A draft revised version of the Police and Criminal Evidence Code of Practice (PACE) Code of Practice C on the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers was issued for consultation on 12 June 2002. The consultation period lasts until 16 August.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of domestic violence have been prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years. [63585]

  Solicitor-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  In 1999, the CPS prosecuted 6,404 cases of domestic violence. In 2000, the CPS prosecuted 7,680 cases of domestic violence. In 2001, the CPS prosecuted 7,996 cases of domestic violence. The figures include cases where a defendant agreed to be bound over and are based on the CPS monitoring system of annual 3-month snapshots carried out between 1999 and 2001.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Missions
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were committed in 2001 by persons entitled to immunity by virtue of their employment by a diplomatic mission or an international organisation, and by their dependants. [70289]

  Mr. Macshane
  From a community of over 19,500 persons entitled to immunity, 21 serious offences, allegedly committed by such persons, were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2001. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the 1985 White Paper on Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges—i.e. as offences that would, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months or more imprisonment.

  Non-Domestic Rates
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom that owed more than £10,000 as at 5 April in respect of national non-domestic rates for office premises. [70290]

  Mr. Macshane
  Most diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom meet their obligations and pay the NNDR requested from them. However, as at 5 April 2002, the following missions owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR:

  £

  Country

  Amount

  Bulgaria

  117,511.13

  Iran

  97,352.55

  Sierra Leone

  48,274.76

  Algeria

  43,194.62

  Mozambique

  31,116.14

  Cameroon

  27,646.19

  Uganda

  24,760.37

  Bangladesh

  20,636.91

  Syria

  20,004.66

  Zambia

  19,276.56

  Senegal

  14,600,98

  Jordan

  13,154.29

  Cote d'Ivoire

  12,066.16

  Total

  489,595.32

  Eleven additional diplomatic missions who each owe more than £10,000 in respect of NNDR have made arrangements with the Valuation Office Agency to clear their outstanding debts have not been included in the list. These eleven missions owe £729,731.66. The total amount outstanding from all missions, therefore, is £1,219,326.98.

  Traffic Offences
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the number of outstanding parking and other minor traffic violation fines incurred by diplomatic missions during the year ended 31 December 2001. [70291]

  Mr. Macshane
  At the end of 2001, unpaid fines in respect of parking and other minor traffic violations incurred by Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations in the United Kingdom totalled 5,842 (£276,410.00). In April this year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office wrote to all affected Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations giving them the opportunity either to pay their outstanding fines or to appeal against them if they considered that the fines had been issued incorrectly. As a result payments totalling £62,931.00 were received, leaving a total of 4,485 (£213,479.00) unpaid fines for 2001. The attached table details those Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations that have more than 10 undisputed fines unpaid.
  1257W

  Unpaid parking and minor traffic violation fines—2001— diplomatic vehicles

  Diplomatic Mission/International Organisation

  No. of fines outstanding

  Amount in £

  Angola

  1088

  44,470.00

  United Arab Emirates

  287

  14,150.00

  Libya

  222

  10,710.00

  China

  156

  6,400.00

  Egypt

  151

  7,030.00

  Mozambique

  147

  5,940.00

  Iran

  140

  8,250.00

  Ukraine

  140

  7,949.00

  Qatar

  122

  5,790.00

  Greece

  111

  5,650.00

  Ghana

  96

  4,090.00

  France

  95

  5,330.00

  Turkey

  87

  4,980.00

  Algeria

  69

  3,840.00

  Morocco

  68

  3,830.00

  Zambia

  64

  3,710.00

  Russia

  51

  2,800.00

  Ethiopia

  47

  1,990.00

  Jamaica

  43

  2,670.00

  Jordan

  42

  2,480.00

  International Maritime Organisation

  40

  2,000.00

  Vietnam

  40

  2,280.00

  Cyprus

  39

  1,790.00

  Mongolia

  39

  2,630.00

  Georgia

  38

  2,250.00

  Brunei

  37

  1,540.00

  Kazakhstan

  37

  2,180.00

  Philippines

  37

  2,000.00

  Albania

  35

  1,430.00

  Afghanistan

  34

  1,940.00

  Hungary

  32

  1,390.00

  Poland

  31

  1,250.00

  Bahrain

  30

  1,650.00

  Malaysia

  30

  1,360.00

  Yemen

  30

  1,410.00

  Pakistan

  29

  1,680.00

  Peru

  29

  1,680.00

  United States of America

  27

  1,010.00

  Cuba

  26

  950.00

  Oman

  26

  3,010.00

  Portugal

  25

  3,550.00

  Dominican Republic

  23

  1,390.00

  Romania

  22

  1.140.00

  Rwanda

  20

  850.00

  Tunisia

  20

  1.200.00

  Uganda

  20

  840.00

  Kenya

  19

  730.00

  Sierra Leone

  19

  2,120.00

  Commonwealth Secretariat

  18

  1,400.00

  Kuwait

  16

  6,810.00

  Sudan

  16

  760.00

  Cote D'Ivoire

  15

  1,810.00

  Barbados

  15

  600.00

  Belgium

  15

  780.00

  Brazil

  14

  950.00

  Zimbabwe

  14

  560.00

  Mexico

  13

  1,210.00

  Spain

  13

  1,050.00

  Germany

  12

  540.00

  Bulgaria

  11

  670.00

  Gabon

  11

  780

  Uzbekistan

  11

  470.00

  Total

  4254

  217,699

  Arms Exports
  Anne Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations Her 1258W
  Majesty's Government have undertaken (a) within the UK and (b) with European partners in arriving at the new criteria on arms export components.[69507]

  Mr. O'Brien
  The other factors referred to by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his response to the question from the hon. Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping), 8 July 2002,Official Report, columns 650–52W, were the result of extensive discussion within Government. Since they were an elaboration of existing policy covering a limited category of cases, we did not conduct consultations outside the Government within the UK. But we conducted two rounds of consultations with other EU Member States to check carefully their approach in such cases. Our consultations confirmed that other EU MS recognise the need for a special approach in such
  cases.

  Gibraltar
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reforms put in place since 1996 in Gibraltar in relation to company law and practice; and what deficiencies these were aimed at correcting. [67847]

  Mr. Hain
  Since 1996 the Government of Gibraltar has introduced both new legislation and amendments to existing legislation concerning company law and practice. These legislative changes have been made to implement EU Directives impacting on company law.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reforms put in place since 1996 in Gibraltar in relation to company law and practice; and what deficiencies these were aimed at correcting. [69353]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the above answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock.

  Sheik Hamad bin Jassin bin Jaber al-Thari
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department was informed of payments made by BAE Systems for its predecessor British Aerospace to his Excellency Sheik Hamad bin Jassin bin Jaber al-Thari; and if he will make a statement. [61120]

  Mr. O'Brien
  The first reference we have been able to trace in our records is a report in 1998 which stated that Shaik Hamed bin Jassin bin Jaber al-Thari had received commissions in connection with a defence equipment package signed in 1996 (for which BAe were the lead contractor).

HEALTH

  Foundation Hospitals
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many three star hospitals have indicated a willingness to become a foundation hospital. [64325]

  Mr. Lammy
  Thirty-one of the acute National Health Service trusts that were awarded 3 stars in the NHS performance ratings announced in 2001 have expressed an interest in foundation status. The first wave of NHS
  1259W
  foundation trusts will be selected from among the cohort of NHS acute trusts that achieve 3 stars in the performance ratings to be published in July 2002.

  NHS Doctors
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were employed in the NHS in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001, broken down by nationality. [64336]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not collect data on individual nationalities of doctors but does collect the countries in which they qualified, broken down into United Kingdom, the rest of the European Economic Area and elsewhere.

  The table only shows hospital medical staff working in the National Health Service in England. The country of qualification for dental staff is not collected.

  Hospital medical staff by country of qualification

  numbers

  England as at 30 September

  2000

  2001

  All countries of qualification

  65,374

  67,838

  United Kingdom

  45,016

  46,205

  Rest of EEA

  3,643

  3,662

  Elsewhere

  16,715

  17,971

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  The following table shows data for general practitioners. The Department does not collect data on doctors by nationality. Information is provided by country of primary medical qualification.

  General medical practitioners in England by country of first qualification, 2000 and 2001

  headcount

  2000

  2001

  Total

  Total

  All practitioners1

  31,369

  31,835

  of which:

  UK

  25,367

  26,002

  Rest of EEA

  1,204

  1,253

  Elsewhere

  4,798

  4,580

  1All Practitioners include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars. Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other and GP Retainers.

  Data as at 30 September 2000 and 2001.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Beta Interferon
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the discrepancies between health authorities in prescribing beta interferon and Interferon for MS; and if he will make a statement. [64459]

  Mr. Lammy
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received the hon. Member's letter of 20 June. According to the Department's records we have not received any other recent representations about prescribing discrepancies under the risk-sharing scheme 1260W
  for drugs for people with multiple sclerosis announced on 4 February. The scheme started to operate on 6 May and the guidance in Health Service Circular 2002–04 recognised that it may take 18 months or longer for treatment to be initiated for all eligible patients.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans are in place and what the timetable is to introduce the beta interferon risk-sharing scheme to Hertfordshire. [68107]

  Mr. Lammy
  The National Health Service organisations in Hertfordshire are close to finalising arrangements to meet the requirements of the guidance in health service circular 2002–04 so that patients who meet the criteria developed by the association of British neurologists benefit from treatment with Beta Interferon.

  Social Services Departments
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he proposes to(a) start and (b) finish the consultation exercise on social service department fines as set out in paragraph 8.10 of Delivering the NHS Plan; [64514]

  (2) if he will set out his plans for social services departments who are consistently fined under his proposals in Delivering the NHS Plan, paragraph 8.10. [64517]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on the 18 June 2002,Official Report, column 235W.

  Female Staff
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the staff of his Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997. [66921]

  Mr. Lammy
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 5 July 2002,Official Report, column 622W.

  Building Values
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the buildings owned by his Department and estimate the market value of each of them. [66943]

  Mr. Lammy
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 3 July 2002,Official Report, column 339W.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which voluntary groups are assisting the Government develop and deliver its teenage pregnancy strategy. [66711]

  Ms Blears
  The teenage pregnancy unit has invited a wide range of voluntary organisations to become members of a non-statutory forum, which meets twice a year. The organisations are listed below.

  ACET

  Barnados

  Black Health Agency

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  1261W

  Brook

  The Children's Society

  Crisis

  Education for Choice

  Fathers Direct

  The Foyer Federation

  fpa

  Gingerbread

  Girls Friendly Society

  The Guide Association

  Health Action for Homeless People

  Homestart

  Image in Action

  Marie Scopes International

  Maternity Alliance

  National Association of Governors and Managers

  National Childbirth Trust

  National Children's Bureau

  National Children's Home

  National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations

  National Family and Parenting Institute

  National Foster Carers Association

  National Housing Federation

  National Newpin

  National Council for One Parent Families

  National Pyramid Trust

  NSPCC

  Parentline Plus

  Parenting. Education and Support Forum

  PIPPIN

  The Princes Trust

  Relate

  Save the Children

  Trust for the Study of Adolescence

  Working with Men

  YMCA

  YWCA

  Professionals from the voluntary sector also attend the independent advisory group on teenage pregnancy where, in their personal capacity, they provide advice on the teenage pregnancy strategy.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the religious organisations which are involved in helping the Government deliver their teenage pregnancy strategy; and if he will make a statement on their role. [66707]

  Ms Blears
  Development of the teenage pregnancy strategy was informed by consultation with individuals and organisations representing a wide range of faiths.

  To ensure on-going dialogue with faith groups during the implementation of the strategy, the teenage pregnancy unit has established an inter-faith forum. The forum meets twice a year to discuss particular aspects of the teenage pregnancy strategy, to consider what role faith members can play in supporting its implementation and to share examples of work in practice with faith communities. The forum has over 40 members and includes representation from the following faiths.
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  Church of England

  Roman Catholic

  Methodist

  Moslem

  Hindu

  Jewish

  In addition to the inter-faith forum, there are two members of the independent advisory group on teenage pregnancy who provide advice on the strategy from a faith perspective.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the funding mechanisms and funding streams for the delivery of his teenage pregnancy strategy. [66704]

  Ms Blears
  Since April 2002, funding to support implementation of local teenage pregnancy strategies has been routed to top tier local authorities through the teenage pregnancy local implementation grant. The resources support locally agreed teenage pregnancy strategies and action plans, developed jointly by health and local authority partners, with the aim of pump-priming promising approaches and new developments, and facilitating effective local co-ordina-tion. The local teenage pregnancy partnership board, with representation from the local authority, primary care trusts (PCTs) and other key local partners, make recommendations on the use of the grant and oversee implementation of the local action plan.

  Local teenage pregnancy partnership boards also liaise with the local authorities, PCTs, and other local organisations to secure additional mainstream sources of funding to support implementation of the strategy.

  In addition to the local implementation grant, the teenage pregnancy strategy is supported by other relevant Government initiatives such as the Connexions service, neighbourhood renewal and the children's fund, and funding from other Government Departments, including:
  teenage pregnancy standards fund to support school age parents in continuing with their education;
  sure start plus and childcare pilots to provide better support for pregnant teenagers and teenage parents;
  approved funding from the housing corporation for 1,500 new units of supported housing for teenage parents.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the Government are making available for reducing teenage conceptions, broken down by non-statutory group funded in the current financial year. [66710]

  Ms Blears
  During this financial year, we are investing £16 million to support the implementation of local teenage pregnancy strategies which will include, at local discretion, the involvement of the voluntary sector, and a further £900,000 to support regional coordination. An additional £4 million will be invested in the teenage pregnancy strategy national campaign which includes the provision of the sexwise helpline, through the Essentia Group, and funding for Parentline Plus. In addition, a small number of projects undertaken by non-statutory organisations are supported at national level and are listed below.
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  £

  National Family and Parenting Institute, for consultation with parents.

  37,000

  GFS Platform Great Yarmouth, for a conference on young parents.

  5,000

  National Children's Bureau, for consultation with young people and to support further developments in Personal Social and Health Education, including Sex and Relationship Education.

  68,000

  Brook, for the development of a quality assurance framework for youth contraceptive services.

  £20,000

  Air Pollution
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs borne by the National Health Service as a result of illness caused from air pollution, in each Government Office Region, in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [67491]

  Ms Blears
  The Department's committee on the medical effects of air pollutants published a report in 1998 on "Quantification of the Health Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom", a copy of which is available in the Library. The report was based on levels of pollutants in 1995. It estimated that the deaths of between 12,000 and 24,000 vulnerable people (mainly those with heart or lung disease) may be brought forward and between 14,000 and 24,000 respiratory hospital admissions and readmissions may be associated with short term exposure to air pollution each year. There was insufficient information to allow quantification of other health effects of air pollution.

  The Department's ad-hoc group on the economic appraisal of the health effects of air pollution estimated that the average cost to the National Health Service of a respiratory hospital admission was about £1,3901.

  1For 1994–5 at 1996–7 prices.

  Dementia
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is doing to help increase the early diagnosis of dementia; what support groups and services there are for people with dementia and their carers in(a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) England; and what his Department is doing to increase the availability of information about dementia to the public. [67040]

  Jacqui Smith
  The importance of early diagnosis of dementia is recognised in the national service framework (NSF) for older people, which was published in March 2001. Implementation of Standard 7, on mental health in older people, will increase early diagnosis. Introduction of the single assessment process, also required by the NSF, will also help.

  There are a number of national organisations which provide support and services for people with dementia and their carers, including the alzheimer's society, dementia voice and carers UK. In South Tyneside, there is a network of community services, provided through the
  1264W
  community services department, which support people with dementia and their carers; and other services are being developed. The Alzheimer's Society provides a wide range of support services in collaboration with the personal advisor service which works in local primary health care teams and with the specialist mental health trust. Day care facilities are provided at Palmers Community Hospital in Jarrow.

  The Department is promoting the availability of information through implementation of Standard 2 of the NSF, and of the information strategy which underpins the NSF, and through more general developments to promote patient and public involvement, for example, through patient advice and liaison services.

  Ambulances
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance vehicles were involved in(a) slight injuries, (b) serious injuries and (c) fatal accidents in the last five years. [67435]

  Mr. Lammy
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on ambulance response times for the Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust. [66898]

  Mr. Lammy
  Staffordshire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has consistently been one of the best performers for "Category A" response times in the United Kingdom. In 2001–02, they not only exceeded the national target of 75 per cent. of calls responded to within eight minutes, but also exceeded the target for 2002–03 of 80 per cent of calls responded to within eight minutes. Their response rate was listed by the National Audit office in figures published recently as achieving an average of 87.5 per cent., the top performer in the UK. The trust is to be commended on their continuing excellent response rates.

  Yellow Card Scheme
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) adverse incidents and (b) deaths have been reported under the yellow card scheme since 1997 involving (i) proprietary analgesics, (ii) aspirin-based products, (iii) paracetamol-based products, (iv) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-based products and (v) anti-histamines. [67424]

  Mr. Lammy
  Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines are collected by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the yellow card scheme.

  The number of suspected ADR reports including reports with a fatal outcome received via the yellow card scheme from 1 January 1997 to 4 July 2002 for aspirin-based products, paracetamol-based products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) based products and anti-histamines are provided in the following table.
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  No. of ADR reports

  No. of reports with a fatal outcome

  Aspirin-based products

  572

  41

  Paracetamol-based products

  368

  38

  NSAID-based products

  7833

  256

  Anti-histamines

  1039

  19

  Proprietary analgesics are difficult to define as a group and include aspirin-based, paracetamol-based and NSAID based products, the data for which are provided in the table above. These data should be seen in the context of the very wide usage of these drugs with millions of patients being treated every year in the United Kingdom.

  It is important to note that submission of a suspected ADR report does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.

  Data from the yellow card scheme cannot be used to measure the frequency of an adverse reaction as it is associated with a degree of underreporting which varies between different medicines.

  The MCA/CSM has provided guidance on safe prescribing of NSAIDs to health professionals in 1994 and most recently in April 2002.

  Cancer
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on(a) cancer research and (b) cancer treatment in each of the last three years. [67801]

  Ms Blears
  Total Department and National Health Service expenditure in England for cancer research was £77.4 million in 1999–2000 and £83.8 million in 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

  The Department does not collect figures on the cost of NHS services in a way that enables an accurate figure to be calculated for the cost of a particular disease.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of Datamonitor's recently published research on five year cancer survival rates. [68279]

  Ms Blears
  The Datamonitor survey was based on survival rates for cancer patients diagnosed over a decade ago. These figures showed that survival rates in this country were lower than for comparable European countries. That is why, in September 2000, we published the NHS Cancer Plan which sets out a programme of action to improve cancer prevention, detection, treatment and research which are intended to bring our survival rates in line with the rest of Europe.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what epidemiology studies his Department have carried out to investigate the causes of cancer clusters. [67136]
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  Ms Blears
  The Department has funded a number of epidemiology studies on specific cancer clusters. The following studies were commissioned from the Small Area Health Statistics Unit at Imperial College and all are published in the scientific literature:

  Incidence of cancer of the larynx and lung near incinerators of waste solvents and oils in Great Britain. (Elliott et al., Lancet (1992): Volume 339, pp. 854–858.)

  Cancer incidence and mortality near the Baglan Bay petrochemical works, South Wales. (Sans et al., Occupational and Environmental Medicine (1995): Volume 52, pp. 217–224.)

  Lympho-haematopoetic malignancy around all industrial complexes that include major oil refineries in Great Britain. (Wilkinson et al., Occupational and Environmental Medicine (1999): Volume 56, pp. 577–590.)

  Cancer incidence near radio and television transmitters in Great Britain. I. Sutton Coldfield Transmitter and 2. All high power transmitters. (Dolk et al., American Journal of Epidemiology (1997): Volume 145, pp. 1–9 and 10–17.)

  Cancer incidence and mortality around the Pan Britannica Industries pesticide factory. Waltham Abbey. (Wilkinson et al., Occupational and Environmental Medicine (1997): Volume 54. pp. 101–107.)

  The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) recommended (COMARE Third Report) an investigation of the geographical distribution of childhood cancer and leukaemia in Great Britain and how the pattern of cases around nuclear installations compares with the national pattern. A study has been commissioned by the Department of Health Radiological Protection Research Programme (RPRP) and is a multicentre study co-ordinated by the childhood cancer research group in Oxford. This study is nearing completion and the Department has asked COMARE to advise on which, if any, nuclear installations in Great Britain have incidences of childhood cancer and leukaemia in their vicinity which are statistically outside the distribution seen nationally. COMARE is hoping to report on this aspect of the study to the Department in 2003. The study is investigating, among other topics, clustering as a feature of childhood cancer. This will be broken down as leukaemia and other childhood cancers and other groupings considered relevant. The study will also relate leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma around nuclear installations to the Great Britain clustering analysis.

  When complete, the database will also allow investigation of other environmental factors and their potential relevance to the temporal and spatial distribution of childhood cancer.

  The RPRP is also funding a study into the possible association between childhood cancer, electromagnetic fields (emf) and powerlines. The Department also contributes to the Electromagnetic Field project, which is examining possible associations between emf and general disease patterns (including cancer).

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority in each of the last five years; what the local survival rate is; how much funding has been given to breast cancer treatment in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [67421]
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  Ms Blears
  Information held centrally on diagnoses of breast cancer in the former Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and

  Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where the main diagnosis was "Malignant neoplasm of breast" or "Carcinoma in situ of breast", for patients resident in Isle of Wight and Portsmouth & South East Hampshire Health Authority

  Health Authority

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  QD2 Portsmouth & South

  East Hampshire HA

  471

  558

  531

  494

  836

  QD4 Isle of Wight HA

  451

  498

  508

  548

  249

  Total

  992

  1,056

  1,039

  1,042

  1,085

  Notes:

  1. An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.

  2. The main diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the HES data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.

  3. Data in this table are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data, except for 2000–01 which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Additional information on registrations and survival rates can be found in the Compendium of Clinical and Health Indicators 2001, which is available on national centre for health outcomes website. Information on breast cancer is also available on the National Statistics website.

  The mortality rates for the former health authority area have decreased over the last decade but do remain high compared to the rest of the country, as do the average life years lost for women under 75 years. The breast cancer group of the central south coast cancer network is to examine in more detail the apparent variations and to review all treatment protocols to ensure they follow best practice.

  The funding allocated to local breast cancer services is determined by the health authority and, for that reason, figures are not held centrally.

  ADHD
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial resources are available for the treatment of ADHD; how many specialist staff are employed in the NHS to work with children with ADHD in(a) Gloucestershire, (b) England and (c) the average health authority in England; and if he will make a statement. [67141]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information is not collected centrally on the expenditure on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) nor on the number of specialist staff employed in the National Health Service who work with children with ADHD.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's increase in licence fees; and if he will make a statement. [67138]

  Ms Blears
  We will consider the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's proposals when they have completed the wide ranging consultation currently under way.
  1268W
  South East Hampshire Health Authority area is shown in the table.

  Genetic Diagnostics
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public consultation was undertaken by the HFEA on pre-implantation genetic diagnostics, prior to their HASHMI decision; what the results of the consultation were; and what conclusion the HFEA reported. [67135]

  Ms Blears
  The decision in principle to allow the licensing of treatment whereby an embryo is tested for its tissue compatibility with an existing sibling by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a matter for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

  In November 2001 the HFEA and the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) published the outcome of their joint public consultation on PGD which had begun in November 1999 as a joint consultation between the HFEA and the then Advisory Committee on Genetics Testing. This supported the use of PGD, subject to strict licensing arrangements, and concluded that tissue-typing as part of PGD would require further discussion. Following further consideration of the issue by the HFEA's ethics committee, the HFEA announced in December 2001 their decision in principle to allow PGD for serious genetic disease to be used in conjunction with tissue typing. Applications are considered on an individual basis and to date only one licence has been granted after very careful and lengthy consideration of the issues involved.

  Alcohol
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of(a) admissions to hospital, (b) visits to a GP and (c) other interfaces with the National Health Service that were alcohol related and their combined cost in each of the last five years. [67020]

  Ms Blears
  Data on National Health Service hospital admissions and costs to the NHS are provided in the tables shown. Data are not available on the number of visit to general practitioners and other interfaces with the NHS that were alcohol related.
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  Table 1

  NHS hospital admissions where there was a primary diagnosis of selected alcohol related disease, England, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  Primary diagnosis (ICD10)

  number of admissions

  1996–97

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  32,500

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  7,900

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,300

  Total of above

  42,700

  1997–98

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  34,400

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  9,000

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,400

  Total of above

  45,700

  1998–99

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  32,100

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  9,200

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,000

  Total of above

  43,300

  1999–2000

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  32,300

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  10,100

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,000

  Total of above

  44,400

  2000–01

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  27,300

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  10,100

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  1,700

  Total of above

  39,100

  Notes:

  1. The data include private patients in NHS hospitals.

  2. The data do not include patients admitted with a primary diagnosis not related to alcohol (e.g. an injury).

  3. Data in this table have been rounded to the nearest one hundred admissions. Data for 1996–97 to 1999–2000 have been grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  4. ICD10 = International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision.

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Table 2

  Estimated cost of alcohol misuse to the NHS, England and Wales, 1999

  £million

  Inpatient costs—direct alcohol diagnosis

  52

  Inpatient costs—other alcohol related diagnosis

  152

  General practice costs

  4

  Total cost to NHS

  207

  Notes:

  The original study from which this estimate was obtained provided data at 1994 prices. It has been adapted, and updated to 1999 prices by the Department of Health (EOR).

  Source of original study:

  Godfrey C, Hardman G: Changing the social costs of alcohol. Final report to the AERC. York: Centre for Health Economics, University of York, 1994.

  Spending Review
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review. [68692]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Spending Review has covered the breadth of the Department's spending programmes in varying degrees. As such, the Review has required the involvement of a range of staff from across the Department. The Spending Review is closely linked to 1270W
  the Department's on-going work programme and it is not possible to estimate precisely how many staff have been involved.

  Royal Prerogative
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions have been made by his Department in the last year under authority from the Royal Prerogative. [63131]

  Mr. Lammy
  I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears) to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 9 November 2001,Official Report, column 470W.

  Cancelled Operations
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in each quarter of 2001, broken down by NHS trust. [65166].

  Mr. Hutton
  Data on the total number of operations cancelled are not collected. A list of the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons on, or after the day the patient was due to be admitted, broken down by National Health Service trust, will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operating slots have been cancelled at the(a) Kent and Sussex Hospital and (b) Pembury Hospital since May 1997. [67047]

  Ms Blears
  Information on operating slots has not been collected centrally for a number of years. Information on cancelled operations is collected at health authority level and placed in the Library. Information for individual National Health Service trusts is available on the Department's website.

  Herbal Products
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress the Government have made in its negotiations within Europe to amend the drafting of the European Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive to ensure that account can be taken of herbal traditions from outside the EU in satisfying the 30 years qualifying period for herbal products without proof of efficacy; [66852]

  (2) if he will place in the Library the evidence of people being harmed by unregulated herbal medicines referred to by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, European Standing Committee C on 18 June 2002, Official Report. column 11W; [66851]

  (3) if he will list the criteria being used to determine which herbal products will be included on the positive list of herbal substances under Article 16f of the amendment proposed to Directive 2001/83/EC regarding traditional herbal medicinal products; [66773]

  (4) what representations his Department has received to reduce the length of period that a herbal product or combination of herbal products must have been in use to 15 years; and if he will make a statement; [66858]
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  (5) what estimate his Department has made of the number of herbal products available in the UK that will be excluded under the current draft of amendments to Directive 2001/83/EC concerning traditional herbal medicinal products; [66855]

  (6) what plans he has to inform the public of the difference between a licensed and a registered herbal product; and what this difference will mean in terms of the safety and efficacy of the herbal product; [66859]

  (7) what evidence his Department has received of products that have contained dangerous combinations of herbs; if he will list these combinations; and what harmful effect each combination had on humans; [66856]

  (8) if he will define the terms very high, high and medium in terms of pounds sterling, with regard to compliance costs referred to in the regulatory assessment for the prosposals amending Directive 2001/83/EC regarding traditional herbal medicinal products. [66774]

  Ms Blears
  An assessment of safety issues associated with herbal medicines, whether comprising of one or more ingredients, will be placed in the Library. In summary, safety issues relating to unlicensed herbal remedies leading to public health risk have arisen in the United Kingdom and elsewhere as a result of a number of factors. These include: interactions between herbal remedies and other medicines; the inherent toxicity of a herbal ingredient; the inclusion of toxic herbal ingredients or contamination as a result of poor manufacturing standards; and the adulteration of herbal remedies with other ingredients, such as prescription only cortico-steroids.

  There are a range of possible reasons why a product currently sold as an unlicensed herbal remedy under Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act, 1968, might not satisfy the criteria of the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products. There are no specific quality or safety standards set under the current regulatory regime for unlicensed herbal remedies and it is therefore possible that in some cases, without adjustment to the product, the safety and quality standards applicable under the proposed directive might not be met. Concerns have been expressed by some respondents to a recent consultation exercise (MLX 283) carried out by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) that some products, currently legally sold as unlicensed herbal remedies may fall outside the scope of the directive as a result of an inability to demonstrate traditional usage as currently defined in the directive. The consultation period has been extended to the end of July specifically to allow those expressing concerns to identify any examples of such products.

  As the MCA's consultation exercise on the proposed directive is still in progress analysis of the results is ongoing. There have, however, been some representations suggesting that the 30 year period for demonstrating traditional use might be reduced. The figure of 30 years as a reasonable indicator of traditional usage was one that commanded wide support among many member states throughout the informal development of the directive. The specific examples which the MCA has asked the herbal sector to provide by the end of July should help to demonstrate whether the proposed 30 year criteria would
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  in practice present a significant threat to the regulatory position of herbal remedies which could reasonably be regarded as traditional.

  An initial discussion of the proposed directive took place in the Council of Ministers' working group on 10 June. The UK Government indicated their view that the quality, reliability and relevance of the evidence of traditional use was more important than its geographical origin. We will continue to argue this position as negotiations proceed.

  The purpose of the positive list of herbal substances within the proposed directive is to facilitate applications for traditional use registrations so that, where an application complies with the positive list, the applicant need not demonstrate safety or traditional use of the product. The directive proposes that the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the list. Items will be included on the list where the committee accepts that a particular herbal substance, used within the parameters laid down in the list for example as to strength and therapeutic indication, meet the requirements of the directive as to safety and traditional usage.

  The terms used in the initial regulatory impact assessment of the proposed directive were intended to give a very broad indication of the relative impact of the proposals. The actual costs attributable to the directive are likely to vary widely between companies, depending on many factors. For example, the impact of the directive could be very high on a company which was currently placing large numbers of herbal medicines on the market while not following any systematic quality standards. This assessment of very high regulatory impact is unlikely to apply, for example, to those UK companies which manufacture unlicensed herbal remedies in compliance with various systematic codes of practice operated by a number of trade associations in the herbal medicines and health food sector. Similarly, the potential for increased sales, which may for example flow from increased public confidence in the quality of products on offer and improved product information will depend on the response of individual companies.

  The proposed directive would require product information for a herbal medicine with a traditional use registration to include a statement indicating that the efficacy of the product was not proven. A separate proposal in the review of European Union legislation for licensed medicines would allow companies to state in advertising that a medicine with a marketing authorisation was licensed. Both herbal medicines with a marketing authorisation and those with a traditional use registration would have been assessed by the competent authority as having acceptable safety. The indication for a traditional use registered product would be based on long usage rather than proven efficacy, as is required for a product with a marketing authorisation. The MCA has indicated that it has no present plans to review licensed herbal medicines with a view to assessing whether some might more appropriately come within the category of traditional use registration. This is a complex issue and it is possible that the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products as proposed in the directive may develop guidance on this area in due course.
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  Concerns have been expressed by some in the health sector that the proposed quality and manufacturing standards may be over-regulatory. Those expressing such concerns have been invited during the extended period of consultation on the directive to identify which particular standards might be regarded as unnecessary or inappropriate. Further dialogue on this issue should enable the regulatory impact assessment to be enhanced.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to make further representations to the European Commission about the proposed Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive. [67968]

  Ms Blears
  We intend to participate actively in negotiations on the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products and will make representations and propose, support or oppose amendments to the directive as may be necessary in the interests of public health and consumer choice in the United Kingdom. We have extended the period of the Medicines Control Agency's consultation on the directive until the end of July in order to allow those with concerns an opportunity to provide more specific evidence. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and I are meeting representatives of the herbal sector during July to discuss the proposed Directive. In the light of points which may emerge from this further consultation and dialogue, we will consider what additional points we may wish to pursue during the course of the negotiations. We have already highlighted that we wish to see greater flexibility to take account of non-European herbal traditions and that we intend to press for an early date to be specified for the review of the scope of the directive with a view to its possible extension to at least some categories of non herbal traditional medicines.

  Withholding Food and Fluid
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on the use of sedation, with specific reference to withholding food and fluid from a patient; [67215]

  (2) what his policy is on withholding food and fluid from patients and the notice to be taken of relatives' wishes; [67214]

  (3) what advice his Department offers on the use of drugs that suppress the symptoms of terminal dehydration. [67216]

  Mr. Lammy
  I am advised that food and fluids should always be offered to patients who are capable of swallowing them. For terminally ill patients in the final days of life the objective is to control distressing and painful symptoms. Achieving such control may result in sedation. Many patients stop drinking and eating during the final days and it will be for clinical judgment to decide what is the appropriate treatment. Where nutrition and hydration have to be provided by artificial means, their possible withdrawal is in all cases a matter of clinical judgment which is undertaken in accordance with professional advice in accordance with a responsible body of medical opinion and the general law.

  An adult patient who is capable of making his or her own treatment decision is entitled to do so and can refuse artificial hydration and nutrition just as he can any other form of treatment. In the absence of a valid advance
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  refusal of treatment, doctors are required to act in the best interests of a adult patient who is unable to make his or her own treatment decisions. Sometimes this will mean that medical treatment (which includes artificial hydration and nutrition) which is no longer beneficial to the patient should be withdrawn. In these circumstances, suitable medical or other care should be provided to ensure that the comfort and dignity of the patient are maintained. In line with good practice, decisions to withdraw medical treatment should be made only after discussions with the healthcare team and those close to the patient.

  Guidance in relation to palliative care (Changing Gear—Guidelines for Managing the last days of life in adults) was issued by the Department of Health in 1998, and advice on withdrawing and withholding treatment was included in the Reference Guide to Consent for Examination and Treatment, published in March 2001. Further guidance is also available from the British Medical Association.

  North Surrey Primary Care Trust
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) budgeted income and (b) planned expenditure of the North Surrey Primary Care Trust are for 2002–03. [67465]

  Ms Blears
  The North Surrey Primary Care Trust has reported that the current position on the 2002–03 budget is expenditure of £166.640 million. This position takes account of the trust's £2.3 million internal savings programme.

  The trust's income is subject to service and financial framework discussions between Surrey & Sussex Health Authority and the Department's Directorate of Health and Social Care for the South of England, which are still ongoing.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the cost to private sector IT suppliers of developing proposals for core ICT demonstrator projects initially supported by his Department, but for which funding was not found; [67976]

  (2) what representations he has received from private sector IT suppliers concerning the provision of funding for core ICT demonstrator projects initially supported by his Department. [67977]

  Ms Blears
  A programme of small-scale pilot projects—electronic record demonstrator and implementation programme (ERDIP) was funded by the Department. These are currently being evaluated to assess progress and lessons learned prior to a decision being taken about further work.

  In addition, joint work between the Department and a number of private sector consortia was undertaken to explore potential large-scale development projects in information technology (IT). Resources were made available by both the Department and the private sector for this but the considerable monies required for the execution of the projects could not be found.
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  All future IT developments in the NHS are now subsumed into the National Programme described in "Delivering 21st Century, IT Support for the NHS—National Strategic Programme"—copies are available in the Library and at: www.doh.gsi.gov.uk/ipu/whatnew/deliveringit

  The Department will continue to work in partnership with the private sector to deliver IT for the NHS.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the status is of existing NHS ICT procurements at PCT level; and if he will make a statement; [67987]

  (2) if he will publish the guidance which he has issued to PCTs to halt existing NHS ICT procurements; [68003]

  (3) whether he intends to issue further guidance concerning existing NHS ICT procurements at PCT level. [67986]

  Ms Blears
  The new National Health Service information technology programme was outlined in the document "Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS: National Strategic Programme", published by the Department in June 2002. The key change of direction is to take greater central control over the specification, procurement, resource management, performance management and implementation of the information and IT strategy.

  Existing local procurements, and the development by local primary care organisations of system specifications and functional requirements, are valuable in the development of a new national approach. Guidance published by the Department in support of the June 2002 document states:
  "Procurements are underway in many places to deliver electronic patient records and other systems and these procurements need to proceed. Certainly by 2008, as indicated in Delivering the NHS Plan, we expect to see all key applications and functionality of electronic patient records in all PCTs and Trusts."

  On 29 April 2002 the NHS primary care information modernisation programme published a guidance document advising local organisations that have not yet begun procurements to await further guidance arising from the new approach to system certification and accreditation. There was no advice to halt existing procurements; instead the programme advised:
  "Primary care organisations that have already begun the procurement of new primary and community information systems should contact the Primary Care Information Modernisation team. This will enable the team to have a clear understanding of all local activity and the impact that this will have on current and future national initiatives. The team will ensure that the primary care organisation is made aware of any other relevant activity, including contact details, and will provide more detailed guidance and support if required."

  As the new procurement strategy is developed, the Department will issue further advice as to how migration to the new arrangements will be made. This will cover all NHS IT procurements, including those relating to primary care organisations, and will take into account developments arising from existing local procurements.

  Primary Care Drug Dictionary
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what procedures were followed in procuring the design, prototyping and population of the primary care drug dictionary; [67992]

  (2) whether tenders were issued for the design, prototyping and population of the primary care drug dictionary. [67990]

  Mr. Lammy
  A drug dictionary has been developed as part of the research phase of the development of PRODIGY, a computerised decision and learning support tool for general practitioners.

  A recent re-procurement of primary care decision support (based on PRODIGY) is near completion as the work moves from research and development to the implementation phase. Reference to the design work and prototyping for an electronic drug dictionary was included as part of the procurement process. This is consistent with European Union procurement rules.

  Statistics
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the statistics that are collected by his Department by English parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement. [67100]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department collects a wide range of statistics, most of which are collected at a local level. They are based on administrative areas such as health authorities, primary care trusts, National Health Service trusts or local authorities that reflect local lines of responsibility and accountability. They are not collected at Parliamentary constituency level.

  Members of the Government statistical service (GSS) in all Government Departments provide a statistical service to the Library.

  The Library provides a tailored service for Members. Statistics that can often be provided at parliamentary constituency level include economic status (employment, unemployment, and inactivity), claimant count, employee jobs, average earnings and census data. Also, many statistics that are available at a lower level can generally be aggregated to parliamentary constituency level. This includes the increasing range of statistics at ward level becoming available through the neighbourhood statistics service (www.statistics.gov.uk/neighbourhood).

  Medical Devices Directive
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to ensure that the European Medical Devices Directive is in accordance with the Furniture and Furnishing Regulations of 1988 with respect to flame resistance tests for furniture. [67637]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Medical Devices Agency, an executive agency of the Department, has consulted the European Commission about the mechanism for requiring manufacturers of orthopaedic mattresses who place their products on the market as a medical device to also meet the national measures relating to the flammability of furniture in the United Kingdom and is waiting a response.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the(a) Chairman of the Council of the BMA, (b) President of the Royal College of Physicians,(c) President of the Royal College of Surgeons,(d) President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists,(e) President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, (f) President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and (g) President of the Royal College of Nursing. [68061]

  Mr. Lammy
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my Ministerial colleagues and I meet regularly, formally and informally, with key stakeholders, including representatives of the medical and nursing professions and other bodies.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 991W, on NHS-funded activity, if he will share the key findings referred to. [68266]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are considering how best the findings might be made available.

  Surplus Property
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on "The Management of Surplus Property by Trusts in the NHS in England"; and if he will make a statement. [68059]

  Mr. Lammy
  Departmental officials are making substantial progress in implementing the recommendations contained in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on "The Management of Surplus Property by Trusts in the NHS in England".

  This includes:
  A letter to all National Health Service trust and primary care trust (PCT) chief executives requiring them to have an estate strategy by 31 December 2002 with progress being monitored by NHS Estates.
  "Amendments to Estatecode" which incorporate the report's recommendations which is being published this month.
  A training session for all staff involved in corporately overseeing sales by NHS trusts and PCTs.
  The publication this month of an information guide to local planning authorities and the NHS on development plans and NHS modernisation.

  European Law
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that it follows procedures for procurement in accordance with European law. [68048]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department maintains comprehensive guidance covering all aspects of procurement activity, including the European Union Public Procurement Directives. This information and guidance is posted on the Department's Intranet to which all its staff has access.
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  In addition to written instructions, the Department's central procurement policy and advisory unit exists to instruct and provide support to anyone in the Department who may be engaged in any procurement activity. It is a specific Departmental requirement that all procurements in excess of £50,000 involve the services of a trained purchaser.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 22 April regarding the treatment of bowel cancer. [68289]

  Ms Blears
  A reply was sent on 11 July.

  E-injuries
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken on children with(a) repetitive strain injury, (b) text message injury and (c) long-term injuries from playing gaming consoles. [68097]

  Jacqui Smith
  The main Government agency for medical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is funded via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC funds research into repetitive strain injury and spent £97,000 on research into this condition in 2000–01. The MRC is not supporting any research into children with repetitive strain injury, text message injury or long term injuries from playing gaming consoles.

  Eden Strang
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role his Department has played in the(a) release and (b) post-release arrangements of Eden Strang; and if he will make a statement. [67854]

  Jacqui Smith
  Mr. Strang was managed as a voluntary National Health Service patient.

  His pre discharge and discharge plan was in line with the care programme approach which in general terms involves a multi-disciplinary assessment of health and social care needs, including risk assessment, and an appropriate care plan.

  Community Equipment Services
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people benefited from the use of community equipment services in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [68271]

  Jacqui Smith
  It is estimated that 1,300,000 individual people benefited from National Health Service and social services community equipment services in the year ending 31 March 2001. An estimate is not available for the year ending 31 March 2000.

  Defibrillators
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures his Department has put in place to ensure that members of staff at sites where automated defibrillators have been installed have been appropriately trained in the use of such equipment. [68275]
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  Ms Blears
  A defibrillator advisory committee (DAC) was established at the outset of the initiative to assist the government with the implementation of the defibrillator initiative. One of its tasks was to recommend criteria for the training competencies of those individuals who may be required to use an automated external defibrillator (AEDs) at sites identified. An initial four hour training programme was agreed that covered the training outcomes of basic life support (BLS) and the use of an AED. Trainees are not certified if they fail to achieve the crucial competencies. Refresher training occurs at six monthly intervals to ensure skill and knowledge retention. All trainees who pass the course are issued with a training record card that is certified by the trainer to show they have attended a training course in BLS and the use of an AED; this is updated following the successful completion of subsequent refresher training courses.

  A formal procurement process to purchase training services was undertaken to meet the training requirements of the programme's national roll-out and to ensure the appropriate training of personnel at sites identified. Training contracts were awarded under the direction of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) and in conjunction with medical and educational advisors from the resuscitation council (UK) Training contracts for five National Health Service regions were awarded to ambulance service training departments, St. John Ambulance was awarded contracts for two regions, and the British Red Cross was awarded a contract for one region.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new automated defibrillators have been installed in public places since 1 May. [68276]

  Ms Blears
  Since 1 May 2002, fifty-five automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been installed across seventeen public sites in England. Since the launch of the first site in April 2000, 542 AEDs have been installed across eighty-two sites.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff at each of the sites where automated defibrillators have been placed have participated in training programmes in their use. [68274]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 July 2002]: By the end of June 2002, 2914 personnel across seventy-five sites identified for the Defibrillators in Public Places Initiative had received training in basic life support and the use of an automated external defibrillator. A breakdown of training activity at each site is illustrated below:

  Site

  Number trained

  1

  MetroCentre

  93

  2

  Leeds Station

  40

  3

  Euston Station

  30

  4

  Liverpool Street Station

  30

  5

  Manchester Piccadilly Station

  40

  6

  Birmingham New Street Station

  30

  7

  Waterloo Station Waterloo International

  51

  8

  Victoria Station

  50

  9

  Heathrow Terminal 4

  53

  10

  Earl's Court Station

  19

  11

  Heathrow Terminal 2

  45

  12

  Liverpool Airport

  51

  13

  Heathrow Terminal 3

  60

  14

  Newcastle Airport

  144

  15

  Reading Station

  40

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  Site

  Number trained

  16

  Coventry Station

  7

  17

  York Station

  25

  18

  London Bridge Station

  31

  19

  Stansted Express

  29

  20

  Sheffield Station

  16

  21

  Exeter Airport

  38

  22

  Exeter St David Station

  12

  23

  Bristol Templemeads Station

  19

  24

  Plymouth Station

  20

  25

  Barnsley Interchange

  18

  26

  Gatwick Airport

  306

  27

  Continental Ferry Port—Portsmouth

  34

  28

  Crewe Station

  21

  29

  Preston Station

  12

  30

  Stockport Station

  15

  31

  Euro Tunnel, Folkestone

  104

  32

  Sheffield Interchange

  15

  33

  Peterborough Station

  13

  34

  Victoria Coach Station

  21

  35

  West Bromwich Bus Station

  6

  36

  Paddington Station

  19

  37

  Luton Airport Parkway Station

  23

  38

  King's Cross Station

  17

  39

  Newcastle Central Station

  25

  40

  Manchester Coach Station

  13

  41

  Charing Cross Station

  14

  42

  Leeds Bradford Airport

  60

  43

  Ipswich Station

  10

  44

  Albert Dock Company

  24

  45

  Blackfriars Station

  10

  46

  East Midlands Airport

  11

  47

  Bristol Airport

  174

  48

  Doncaster Station

  16

  49

  Norwich Station

  7

  50

  Liverpool Lime Street

  8

  51

  Luton Airport

  41

  52

  Birmingham International Airport

  144

  53

  Stansted Airport

  171

  54

  Manchester Airport

  148

  55

  Heathrow Ground ops & Fire Service

  90

  56

  Heathrow Terminal 1

  65

  57

  Southampton Airport

  31

  58

  Norwich International Airport

  52

  59

  Humberside Airport

  19

  60

  Blackpool Airport

  17

  61

  Sheffield City Airport

  16

  62

  London City Airport

  20

  63

  Teesside Airport

  15

  64

  London Marylebone

  12

  65

  Birmingham International Station

  8

  66

  Birmingham Snow Hill Station

  7

  67

  Bristol Parkway Station

  10

  68

  Clapham Junction Station

  16

  69

  Chelmsford Station

  6

  70

  Digbeth Coach Station

  8

  71

  Ilford Station

  5

  72

  Romford Station

  4

  73

  Hull Paragon Station

  23

  74

  Wakefield West Gate Station

  9

  75

  Carlisle Station

  8

  Medical Records
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme with regards to the national rollout of electronic personal medical records for all patients. [68288]

  Mr. Lammy
  The electronic record development and implementation programme (ERDIP) was established in June 2000 to explore developmental issues around the
  1281W
  electronic record programme specified in the information strategy Information for Health, published in September 1998. The programme consisted of 19 projects, nine of which have now completed. The projects ranged in size from one to exchange information between NHS Direct and general practitioner (GP) systems, to a pan community service covering a health authority (as previously defined), linking hospitals, general practice, ambulance and social care. Two general practices (Bury Knowle and Hatfield) have explored the issues of allowing patients access to their own GP records.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients have access to their electronic medical records. [68287]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 10 July 2002]: At present no official figures are available on the proportion of patients who have been given direct on-line, secure access to their electronic record. However, there are a number of sites that have taken forward work in this area, which will inform policy development and any future national rollout.

  In addition proposal are currently being considered to take forward the development of an electronic personal health record as specified in the National Health Service information strategy, Information for Health. This will be the patient's own record, separate from the general practice and hospital records.

  Photodynamic Therapy
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make photodynamic therapy an approved NHS treatment; and if he will make a statement. [68292]

  Mr. Lammy
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) are carrying out an appraisal of photodynamic therapy as a treatment for age related macular degeneration. NICE published its final appraisal determination on photodynamic therapy on 12 June. This has been appealed against. An appeal panel will now be convened to hear the appeal and decide the outcome. If the appeal is not upheld, then guidance will be published, however, if it is upheld then the appeals panel will ask the appraisal committee to reconsider the evidence in light of the appeal panel's decision. The earliest guidance could be available to the National Health Service is early August.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of trusts have mixed-sex mental health wards. [67957]

  Mr. Hutton
  All mental health wards generally care for both men and women. To provide the required levels of privacy and dignity for patients, wards are split into single sex bays, or single rooms, or otherwise configured to provide adequate segregation of gender. It is the responsibility of each National Health Service trust to determine the most appropriate configuration to meet their specific requirements.

  The Department has set three objectives which trusts must meet to be deemed compliant. These objectives refer to single sex accommodation and not single sex wards.
  1282W
  The target is for three objectives to be achieved in 95 per cent. of trusts by December 2002.

  The three objectives are:
  To ensure that appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients;
  To achieve the patient's charter standard for segregated washing and toilet facilities across the NHS; and
  Provide safe facilities for patients in hospitals who are mentally ill which safeguard their privacy and dignity.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on recruitment and retention as a result of the National Director of Mental Health's working group. [67974]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national director for mental health's working group has taken a number of practical steps related to the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists. The group has initiated an attrition study of psychiatric trainees, a study of flexible trainees in psychiatry, a survey into the retirement intentions of consultant psychiatrists and a study of psychiatrists' workload. The group has provided psychiatric input to international recruitment and work is in progress to recruit psychiatrists through the general global recruitment campaign and the International Fellowship scheme.

  The group has developed a new model of psychiatrists' numbers, tracking recruitment and retention from graduation to retirement and an action plan based on these figures is being prepared.

  Recruitment and retention issues relating to the mental health workforce as a whole are taken forward by the mental health care group workforce team.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many more staff will need to be recruited to acute mental health wards as a result of implementation of the Working Time Regulations; and if he will make a statement as to his plans. [67971]

  Mr. Hutton
  The working time regulations currently fully apply to all staff except for doctors in training.

  The Department is currently in the process of supporting a range of pilot projects to test solutions to implementation of the working time directive. This includes mental health services.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities offer women-only day centres for mental health patients. [68272]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information is not currently available centrally. The mental health service mapping system is being refined to enable the Department to gauge progress against this NHS Plan commitment.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent community psychiatry and other psychiatry nurses there are. [68156]

  Mr. Hutton
  Non-medical workforce information is collected each year as at 31 September, the latest being September 2001.

  As at 31 September 2001, there were 11,040 community psychiatric nurses and 25,930 other psychiatric nurses working in the National Health Service.

  Schizophrenia
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the drugs Ziprazidone and Aripipazole will be available on prescription to treat schizophrenia. [65075]

  Mr. Lammy
  Neither Ziprasidone nor Aripiprazole are licensed drugs in the United Kingdom. These products will become available for prescription once the licensing authority is satisfied of their quality, safety and efficacy for the intended use.

  Suicides
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric outpatients from the Portsmouth, South constituency have committed suicide in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [67419]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  MIND
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of MIND's prescribing protocol; and if he will make a statement. [67039]

  Mr. Lammy
  We welcome the MIND prescribing protocol. The themes highlighted are in line with action we are taking to improve the use of medicines in the National Health Service through medicines management schemes and patient partnership.

  Electro-Convulsive Therapy
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken on electro-convulsive therapy in the last two years. [67636]

  Mr. Lammy
  The main Government agency for medical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is funded via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC currently supports one research project on electro convulsive therapy (ECT) being undertaken by Dr. M. J. Koepp at the Institute of Neurology. The research started on 1 November 2001 and is expected to take three years.

  The Department directly funds research into policy and the delivery of effective practice in health and social care, and provides National Health Service support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities in the NHS. The Department has directly funded research projects relevant to ECT as follows:
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  Role of ECT: Review of studies and information on service user experience;
  Systematic review effectiveness and adverse effects of ECT;
  The Clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy;
  Clinical Effectiveness and cost of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus ECT in severe depression: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial and economic analysis.

  In addition, the Department provides NHS support funding for research councils' and charities' research that is conducted in the NHS. Details of this research can be found on the National Research Register on www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm

  Nurses
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses work(a) as managers and (b) within education services. [68159]

  Mr. Hutton
  Non-medical workforce information is collected each year as at 31 September, the latest being September 2001.

  As at 31 September 2001, there are 5,590 nurses with line management responsibility working as managers and 900 qualified nurse education staff working in the National Health Service in addition to those working in universities.

  National Care Standards Commission
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the National Care Standards Commission. [66899]

  Jacqui Smith
  Under the Care Standards Act the National Care Standards Commission from the 1 April 2002 became responsible for regulating statutory and independent sector care services in accordance with national minimum standards to ensure consistency and improve the quality of life and level of protection for users of social care some of whom are amongst the most vulnerable people in society.

  In addition to fulfilling its regulatory functions, the Commission is charged with other responsibilities, reflecting its position as a national body well-placed to monitor changes in the provision and quality of registered services across the country. The Commission also has a general duty to encourage improvements in the quality of registered services and will be able to suggest ways in which services improve.

  National standards will promote better quality care and help prevent abuse by grounding practice in the principles of dignity, choice privacy and respect.

  Treasury Silver
  Treasury Silver
  Maritime Auxiliary Service
  Maritime Auxiliary Service
  TA Intelligence Specialists
  TA Intelligence Specialists
  Veterans Agency: Targets
  Veterans Agency: Targets
  Disability Rights Commission
  Disability Rights Commission
  Lamb Exports to France
  Lamb Exports to France
  Foot and Mouth Disease Report
  Foot and Mouth Disease Report
  Young Offender Institutions: Educational Provision
  Young Offender Institutions: Educational Provision
  Teachers
  Teachers
  Historical Manuscripts Commission
  Historical Manuscripts Commission
  Brixham Marina
  Brixham Marina
  Government Consultancy Contracts
  Government Consultancy Contracts